A Rae of Hope

I would like to thank all the hundreds of Marist students who took time out of their day last Wednesday to go to Applebees to support the Sloan-Kettering Cancer society and Rae. The turnout was phenomenal! Better than anyone would have expected...

Allison Burke, one of Rae's teammates, shares her perspective...

I took a lap inside Applebee’s last Wednesday evening. I passed Marist’s dean of the school of management, a statistics professor, the director of housing, counselors, and Father Richard Lamorte, on my right. On my left, I passed Marist’s assistant athletic director, the athlete’s academic advisor, the women’s basketball team and coaches, the water polo team, the baseball team, and football coach Jim Parady. And in between, every booth was filled with familiar students.

The hostess told each party they would have to wait an hour to be seated, but ran out of buzzers to give each of them. So they waited outside in 30-degree weather for a table to open up. But by the end of the night, over $650 was donated to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Pediatrics Cancer Center in Raeanna Gutkowski’s name.

“Applebee's told us they are never that crowded - not even on Friday's or Saturday's,” said senior Alicia Mattiello.

Mattiello is one of the four group members who created the “A Rae of Hope” event series in honor of our teammate, Gutkowski. Rae left campus last spring after being diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, but appreciates the capstone project.

“Just because I got sick, doesn’t mean I would ever ask for anything in return,” said Rae. “But nevertheless, the support and love that people from my home and the Marist community give has been overwhelming. It makes me speechless and I just want to cry because I have so much emotion that I can’t put into words.”
Like many collegiate athletes, Rae suffered a knee injury in the middle of spring practice. But unlike most 20-year-old volleyball players, Rae’s test results revealed the unimaginable reality of bone cancer.

While Rae continues to battle cancer, the volleyball team will play a benefit game for her.

“It is just one more thing that my teammates and coaches have done to make me feel so special,” said Rae.

On Nov. 1, the Foxy Ladies will face Iona to complete the “A Rae of Hope” event series. Admission is free, but prizes such as sports memorabilia and local restaurant gift certificates will be raffled off and donations will be accepted to raise money for Rae.

Medical complications have pushed Rae’s return to campus back farther. But as long as her chemotherapy schedule permits, she will attend the game and complete our 12-person roster.

Last Saturday, Marist President Denis Murray was part of our pre-match huddle. He congratulated the team and project’s group members. “A Rae of Hope” carries the Marist spirit in place of its missing member, who has a message for all of us.

“Everyone around our age looks at cancer as something they don’t need to think about for another 50 years,” said Rae. “But unfortunately, that isn’t true. Your life can be changed in a heartbeat, so enjoy your health, take care of yourself, and have fun in college!”