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Vaidya honored for work with Making Strides

Ashish Vadiya holds the plaque in the center
Interim President Ashish Vaidya accepts the Making Strides plaque from St. Cloud State University Student Health Services Director Corie Beckermann, center, together with Kim Orn, left, and Dee Rengel, right, representing the American Cancer Society.

The American Cancer Society recognized Interim President Ashish Vaidya for his support for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Vaidya was one of 10 men to participate in the first Real Men Wear Pink of Central Minnesota initiative for the American Cancer Society in 2016. He also led another successful Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event on campus this October.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is held on the St. Cloud State campus each fall to raise awareness and funds to support breast cancer research, services and programs.

The 10 Central Minnesota ambassadors for Real Men Wear Pink raised $18,500 for the cause. Vaidya earned his campaign goal of $2,500. Nationwide, 2,600 Real Men Wear Pink ambassadors raised more than $5.5 million in 200 communities across the country.

Kim Orn ’82, of the American Cancer Society, presented Vaidya with a plaque for his support of Making Strides. Dee Rengel presented him with an award for his efforts on behalf of Real Men Wear Pink.

Vaidya showed outstanding leadership by participating in the Real Men Wear Pink  and through his support for the on-campus Making Strides event, said Corie Beckermann ’98 ’02, St. Cloud State Student Health Services director.

Ashish Vaidya holds the award with Dee Rengel, Kim Orn and Corie Beckermann also pictured
Interim President Ashish Vaidya accepts the Real Men Wear Pink award from Dee Rengel of the American Cancer Society.

Teams are now forming for the October 14 Making Strides event. The American Cancer Society is also in the process of recruiting its second group for Real Men Wear Pink.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks are the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting nearly 300 communities with a shared determination to finish the fight. Since 1993, more than 11 million Making Strides walkers across the United States have raised more than $685 million.

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