Former Mercyhurst student Evann Parker will have a team participate in her honor at a walk for leukemia research later this month.

Parker attended Mercyhurst from 2009 until she was forced to withdraw at the end of her sophomore year to seek treatment for leukemia. During her time here, she was a member of the golf team. She lost her battle with cancer and died in August 2011.

The golf team has organized a team that will walk in memory of Evann at the 13th annual Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light the Night walk, which will take take place at Jerry Uht Park on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Brenda Youmans is the Campaign Coordinator for the walk.

“What makes it worth being a part of for me is listening to the stories from the patients and their families about how LLS has helped them in so many ways,” said Youmans. “That may be financially or through new medical options that have become available through the research that is funded through the walk.”

Senior Andrea Carneval was a close friend of Parker’s and an important part of organizing the team in her honor.

“Evann and I both came in as freshmen on the golf team in 2009 to Mercyhurst. She was only at school for a year and a term, but I feel that I became as close to her as I could in her short time here,” Carneval said.

Carneval saw the Light the Night walk as both a great way to honor her friend and bring the golf team together.

“We wanted to walk and raise money for her to bring our team closer,” she said. “She was a girl with so much drive and spirit that we find it hard not to live for her every day, every golf tournament, and in everything we do. We obviously think about her and miss her everyday, but it’s something that helps us to become stronger as individuals and as a team.”

Carneval also organized a fundraiser for Evann at the Cornerstone Bar and Grill on Sept. 10.

The team for Evann will be holding a gold balloon during the entire walk to honor her.

Students can get involved in the team for Evann by contacting Carneval at acarne38@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.