By Rose Saraceni ’17
Staff Writer
For this year’s President’s Speaker Series and Relay for Life event, Merrimack will host American gymnast and Massachusetts native Aly Raisman.
Raisman is a two-time Olympian who was a member and a captain of the 2012 “Fierce Five” and the 2016 “Final Five” U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team.
An annual event at the college, world leaders, authors, and influential individuals like Raisman are brought on campus to speak to the Merrimack community as part of the President’s Speaker Series. Relay for Life is also an annual event held at the college, where students and faculty come out to support fundraising efforts in trying to help fight cancer.
According to Boston magazine, Raisman has a personal connection with cancer, as her grandmother, Nancy Raisman, lost her battle with lung cancer. In her grandmother’s honor, Raisman donated $10,000 to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Yawkey Center for Cancer Care.
Manager of campaign and special projects for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Danielle Hardee is excited to see Raisman come to campus. She said considering Raisman is so local and has been an inspiration to many, she would be a good fit for a speaker, especially at Relay.
Relay for Life will give Raisman a chance to share her story with the Merrimack community on April 7, beginning at 6p.m. in Lawler Arena. To sign up to participate at Merrimack College, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY17NE?pg=entry&fr_id=80969.
