KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona basketball head coach Lute Olson speaks outside the Alpha Chi Omega sorority last night about his appreciation for the money sorority and fraternity members raised for cancer research. Members of the greek community held CatWalk yesterday, walking around greek row to fundraise for the Bobbi Olson Memorial Foundation.

Greek community raises $13,160 for foundation honoring the late Bobbi Olson

Members of the UA greek community came out yesterday afternoon to participate in the second annual CatWalk to benefit the Bobbi Olson Memorial Foundation.

Fraternities and sororities presented UA men's basketball coach Lute Olson with a check for $13,160 to benefit the Bobbi Olson Memorial Foundation, founded in memory of Olson's late wife to promote ovarian cancer research.

About 800 members participated in the event, said Josh Surridge, vice president of public relationsfor the Interfraternity Council.

"What a great turnout," Olson told the crowd. "It's really special to see the community coming out like this to support a great cause."

Olson, who was accompanied by several members of his family, said that one of the goals of the Bobbi Olson Memorial Foundation is to help the Arizona Cancer Center become the nation's premier ovarian cancer research institution.

He said that the money from the walk will help fund technology to diagnose ovarian cancer in its early stages, where it is most treatable.

Bobbi Olson, who died of ovarian cancer in February 2001, was diagnosed late, stacking the odds of recovery against her, Olson said.

"From my family, myself and from the Arizona Cancer Center, I give everyone a big thank you," Olson told the crowd.

Julie Brase, Olson's granddaughter and a UA basketball player, said she thought the show of support for the foundation was great and that Olson was very appreciative.

"It's just a great thing they put together," said Brase, a communications and economics senior.

The walk, which took participants in laps around greek row, was organized by the Panhellenic Association, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Interfraternity council.

Jennifer Barth, a communications senior and member of Delta Delta Delta, said that participating in the walk was important to her because cancer is something that affects everyone.

Barth also said that charity is very important to her sorority and that events such as the walk promote solidarity within the greek community.

Surridge said the participation in the event far exceeded the 15 percent membership each house initially pledged.

The event was limited to members of the greek system in order to promote cohesion within the system, Surridge said.

Money raised for the event came from an entrance fee of $15, which was charged to all participants, said Surridge, an economics and Spanish language sophomore.

The cost of T-shirts given to participants was covered by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council in order to allow all of the money raised to go directly to the foundation, Surridge said.

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona also made a donation of $1,000, Surridge added.