Great Profiles

On a grey, brisk April afternoon, tents began to rise around the University of Montana’s oval. It was the second annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Students gathered with their teams to prepare for the 24-hour walk later that evening. Circling the oval through the night was a task that awaited them, but it was a much smaller task than those who suffer from cancer must take on.

Towering over the forming crowd, brown hair draped down her back, and her blue eyes glistening from the chill in the air, Liz Martin stands out. As a freshman Martin remembers that crowd in the main tent. Participants were waiting to purchase luminaries in honor of those who have fought the battle against cancer. Martin was in charge of luminary sales that day. During the planning that led up to the event, Martin hadn’t felt much emotion but, once the evening began she felt overcome. “I feel lucky that my grandma is a survivor and I’m sad I’ve lost an uncle, but that’s the sad part about cancer. I’m just one small person in this big fight against cancer,” said Martin. The emotions during Relay for Life were so powerful on that day that they were almost indescribable.

Five years ago, Martin watched her uncle helplessly as he was losing his battle from cancer. After her tragic loss, Martin felt the urge to learn more about what took her uncle’s life and wanted to help make the difference in others. At 19, Liz Martin is now a sophomore studying exercise science in hopes of one day becoming an athletic trainer. When she is not in the training room assisting Griz athletes, Martin busies herself with the many tasks that need to be accomplished to make Relay for Life a success. All of her hard work and dedication to the organization has paid off; Martin now holds the position as the co-chair for Relay for Life at UM. She didn’t ask or run for this position, but was chosen by her mentor, Katie Murphy, the head of Montana Relay for Life.

Martin described Murphy as a giant ball of energy. “She just has a positive influence on others and can really encourage them to join and be a part of something great,” said Martin. She said that the selection process is based on volunteer hours, involvement and dedication to the organization. “It’s a privilege to be asked to represent and plan this event, it takes dedication and a big heart,” said Murphy.  Martin is already planning for a larger turnout this spring than in years past.

For an active member in the Catholic community, service opportunities were just a short reach away. Martin began her life of service slowly, helping where she could. A soup kitchen one day, Christmas tree sales in winter, and a canned food drive the next. “It’s the little things that make the big impact,” said Murphy about Martin. There are so many things you can participate in, but if you’re involved with too many you lack compassion and are just involving yourself for a personal benefit and publicity. “Actively involving yourself in one group shows drive and passion for that’s the difference you want to imprint upon others,” Martin said.

As a sophomore at Bishop Blanchet, a Catholic high school in Seattle, Martin was a three-year varsity letter player on the women’s basketball team. Martin’s focus turned when she began participating in Relay for Life after her athletic trainer asked his athletes for volunteers. She began just as a team member. As the years passed, her interest grew, and Martin’s involvement escalated from being a tiny piece of the operation to its leader.

Martin is attending the University of Montana on a leadership scholarship. Each year she receives $2,000. This year as the chairman for Relay for Life, Martin has received another scholarship from AmeriCorps for $1,000 per semester. She says she wasn’t even looking for something in return. “I don’t volunteer for Relay to get something back, I do it because I want to give something back,” said Martin. Outgoing, confident and witty, charm pours out of Martin, illuminating the passion she has towards life.

Martin gives back with all the hours she volunteers. During the fall semester she spends around five hours a week meeting with her co-chair Jamie Terry, the head of Relay for Life in Montana, Katie Murphy and the team leaders. There are also sub-committees with around four to six people who meet with the committee heads for updates from them on fundraising, and information on Relay opportunities. During fall they spend their time making phone calls and sending emails recruiting volunteers. In spring semester committee members and team leaders will spend around ten hours a week, while Martin and Terry will spend up to 15-20 hours, or how ever many it takes as the chairmen organizing the event. A team can join at any time by registering online.

As the countdown to Relay for Life begins, Martin reminisces on last year’s walk. “I think it’s really powerful when you see a wide age range of survivors taking that first lap around the oval. You see little kids with shaved heads in remission from chemotherapy that bring tears to your eyes and then there are 50-year-old women practically running around the lap because they are so overjoyed that they’ve won their battle against cancer. It’s so powerful and hopeful to those suffering,” said Martin.

Unlike Relay for Life in Seattle, which is for everyone, at the University of Montana only college student groups participate. Therefore, Relay for Life at the university is a lot more challenging when it comes to finding students that want to be involved; it always seems to be the same ones. Getting college students to participate is hard because it’s on a weekend and students feel that “other” commitments are more important. Those who are committed though, show serious sense of involvement towards Relay.

Relay for Life will be held on April 25 – 26 this year, beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. Martin is confident there will be more participants this year. “Last year’s involvement has already grown, I want to see that again this year,” said Martin.  At least once a month Martin tries to attend different student groups to promote Relay for Life and recruit more people to participate and get involved.

This spring Martin will be walking alongside the participants as not only co-chairman but also as a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority Relay for Life team, and in honor of her great uncle who died of cancer a few years back and for her grandmother who suffered from breast cancer. Martin’s grandmother is now in remission and participates in Relay as a survivor, thanks to Martin’s involvement. Martin feels that there isn’t enough awareness about cancer among young adults.

Ali Anderson, the philanthropy chair for Kappa Kappa Gamma, will be passing on her office to Martin this spring. “I know Liz well from working on Relay with her last year, I have full confidence that she will go above and beyond the service that we promote as Kappas,” said Anderson.

Martin is ready to share her passion of leadership and service to her fellow sisters. “Relay takes up all my time, I knew I could help out and hold an office in Kappa, but it would be hard to juggle. Being philanthropy chair is the one position I could make time for since service is already apart of my life,” said Martin.

When Martin has a moment to spare, she enjoys picking up a basketball again and playing intramural basketball or just a pick-up game in recreation center on campus. She also loves spending time with a close group of friends she has outside of Relay and Kappa. Getting together at “the goat” is Martin’s secret escape. “The goat is the nickname of my friend’s house, we are still unsure how it came about,” Martin said with a chuckle. Relaxing, kicking back and sharing a good laugh, brings out the silly side of Martin. “Life isn’t always serious, you have to know how to be a kid again, if you don’t it’s over before you know it,” said Martin.  Back in Seattle, Martin has a steady boyfriend who she sees only a few times a year. “We make it work, even though we are hundreds of miles apart it just brings us that much closer each time we are together,” Martin said. Martin, a compassionate young woman, cherishes all her friendships deeply; they are a big part of her life, as her support system.

In the near future, Martin is considering taking a semester abroad. Spreading cancer awareness globally is a goal of hers. With her travels she will never let the place Relay for Life has in her heart disappear. “I will always participate in Relay until I can’t, which will be when I die,” said Martin with a laugh.