When most juniors were setting up internships and fretting about the future, one junior faced a very different challenge: survival.
As a junior at Ball State in 2008, Rachel Louden was diagnosed with cancer. In September 2012, the sports administration alumna died after her four-year battle with cancer.
On Sunday, students will come together to remember Louden through something she loved: sports.
Kick For Cancer, from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Field and Sports Building, is a kickball tournament aimed to raise money to create a scholarship in Louden’s name and to donate to the American Cancer Society.
“This event is to honor Rachel, who was the epitome of a Cardinal,” Erica Stevens, a senior public relations major, said. “She was someone who fellow Ball State students could look up to and get inspiration from.”
Stevens used her senior thesis project in part to cope with Louden’s death.
“I’m doing something for Rachel,” Stevens said. “I wasn’t able to be there as she got sicker, so this is my way of serving her and showing her that she was an important part of my life.”
Michael Nauman, a sports administration major, also planned the event. Nauman, the vice president of the Ball State Sports Administration Association, felt impacted by her life, though he didn’t know Louden, he said.
Teams of seven to 10 members need to pay $35 for registration before Friday or $40 at the event.
Stevens and Nauman said they hope for a minimum of 10 teams to be a part of the kickball tournament, which would provide enough to create the student sports administration $350 scholarship that will be in honor of Louden.
The donations that are received past the 10-team mark will go to the American Cancer Society to support cancer research.
Kick For Cancer serves multiple purposes. Stevens said while Kick For Cancer is a fun event to blow off steam before Finals Week, it also aims to spread awareness. Nauman said he feels many remain in the dark about cancer.
For Stevens, she said it was Louden’s death that brought the subject to light.
“Rachel’s death really freaked me out,” Stevens said. “If she could get cancer, anyone could. I could. Her death pulled the rug out from my feet.”
Stevens met Louden from campus Christian ministry work, and the two became friends, Stevens said. When Louden was first diagnosed, she eliminated all distractions in life and put her focus on God. Doctors saw the once aggressive cancer recede in a “miraculous recovery.” After a year and a half, the cancer came back.
Stevens said she saw Louden never let herself be a victim. She exemplified her faith by showing the “unconditional love that Christ showed people, even when she had every right to be selfish,” Stevens said.
Stevens found out during a Bible study training session, where the minister opened with uplifting verses and then informed the group of Louden’s death the night prior.
“It was like time froze; no one could believe it. People were crying,” Stevens said. “It was a huge shock because no one expected this 25-year-old, vivacious, sassy, beautiful young woman to just die like that.”
Stevens began to question what cancer really is and how it affects people’s lives. Talking to peers and classmates, Stevens said she feels people aren’t aware of cancer among college students.
“I don’t think people realize — especially in college — that it affects people our age,” Stevens said. “It’s scary, it’s there, but we have the opportunity to support fellow peers in that struggle.”
Stevens said she believes awareness of cancer among the college-aged group is lacking, because cancer doesn’t affect young adults as much as it does older people. The I’m Too Young For This! Foundation says every eight minutes, a young adult is diagnosed with cancer.
“When someone young dies of a disease, it’s unexpected,” Stevens said. “It shows how short life is. We are not immune; as 20-somethings, we are very, very mortal.”
Stevens said people from Louden’s sorority, Kappa Delta, other sports administration majors and students who knew her are being very supportive. Stevens said she believes Kick For Cancer is a way to support people going through the same battle as Louden did.
“Our peers are facing these issues every day,” Stevens said. “This is a way to help people get the help they need through donating to the American Cancer Society, to give them hope, which I feel is a strong cure.”
Nauman said it’s been a difficult to work on the five-hour event as the two planners.
“I know it’s going to be gratifying when it comes together,” Nauman said. “It’s going to be successful; I just wish more people could’ve been a part of this.”
Elizabeth Wanless, a sports administration instructor, said she is proud of the students who built the event and would like to see a future for the event and scholarship.
“It’s definitely something that can be a pre-finals tradition, to get your energy out and support a cause,” Wanless said. “It would be amazing if this could continue.”
WHAT: Kick for Cancer, kickball tournament
WHEN: 1-6 p.m. Sunday
REGISTRATION: $35 by Friday, $40 at event
