MTSU student shares her mother’s cancer journey ahead of Relay For Life campus event March 22

By Zoee McDow, Grace Pratt, and Sarah Whitley

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — When Faben Zeleke first enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University, her intent was to practice medicine — but after a summer researching at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and working as a pharmacy technician, she found a passion in drug design.

Faben Zeleke, biology major — Faben Zeleke

“I was able to see a different side of health care,” explained the senior majoring in biology with a concentration in genetics and biotechnology who became interested in the side effects of prescription medication and how they affect people’s lives.

Also a student administrative assistant at the Women in STEM or WISTEM Center at MTSU, the Smyrna, Tennessee, resident said her scientific passion became personal when her mother, Tsehaye, was diagnosed with colon cancer.

“The scientist in me was doing a bunch of research,” she said. “(I was) super scared, and I know my mom (was) super scared, but this isn’t a unique feeling… I actually want to do something about this.”

“When you hear the ‘C word,’ you don’t know where the trajectory of your life can go,” she added. “Luckily, (the doctors) caught it early… colon cancer is quite treatable if you catch it early.”

Zeleke will be sharing her story at the Relay for Life of MTSU event this year. The community is invited to join Relay for Life which will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the MTSU Health, Wellness and Recreation Center, better known as the Rec, 1848 Blue Raider Drive. A searchable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap.

Organizers emphasize that this is a family-friendly event, welcoming all ages to join in support of cancer research and celebration of cancer survivors and their caregivers.

Middle Tennessee State University senior biology major Faben Zeleke of Smyrna, Tenn., right, prepares to share a meal with her mother, Tsehaye, who was diagnosed with colon cancer. Faben will share her family’s story at MTSU’s Relay for Life fundraising event set for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the Health, Wellness and Recreation Center on campus. (Submitted photo)

‘… Doesn’t mean that you need to give up’

When she heard about Relay for Life, Zeleke was immediately interested. The signature fundraising walk for the American Cancer Society, the volunteer-led event attracts Relay efforts all over the world to help raise money for cancer research and support cancer patients while celebrating cancer survivors and honoring the memory of those lost to the disease.

“I’m super glad that MTSU has an MT Relay for Life to be able to bring awareness and honor those who may be afflicted, or even those individuals who have been affected by someone who’s passed,” Zeleke said.

Upon joining Relay for Life, Zeleke took on the role of secretary. She wants to help Relay for Life achieve its mission of celebrating those with cancer and their support systems.

“Yeah, cancer is scary, but this is a way to take back that power from it and… find the good in it. And that’s community. That’s the ceremonies. That’s the honoring. And that’s a very beautiful thing in my opinion,” she said.

Zeleke emphasized the importance of holding out hope amid a cancer diagnosis: “I think that fighting cancer is not something that… needs to bring down your spirit… just because of a diagnosis or a possible prognosis… (it) doesn’t mean that you need to give up.”

Relay for Life celebrates those affected by cancer and informs the public about cancer prevention by raising awareness with fundraising events throughout the community each year.

“I realized… the statistics, it’s common, it’s rising, and it’s rising among young people… you don’t necessarily have to look a certain way… diagnoses do not discriminate,” she said.For more information, please visit Relay for Life of MTSU’s website. Anyone interested in being a part of Relay can contact Diana Rust, faculty advisor, at Dianna.Rust@mtsu.edu.