Randolph-Macon College has a long tradition of giving back. Students, often working alongside staff and faculty, regularly perform community service—both locally and well beyond the parameters of the college.

For the 10th consecutive year, members of RMC’s Cheer Team and Dance Team raised funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, which provides support for the programs and initiatives of Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) at VCU and the nearly 60,000 children it serves each year. The RMC teams raised funds by participating in ChoR’s Kids’ Fun Run and Four-Mile Fun Run, which took place September 17, 2016.

Team members, who sought donations from family and friends, could choose whether they wanted to run or walk the four-mile race, or volunteer to help along the race courses. In addition to their time and enthusiasm, the group donated $800 to the CHoR.

Susan Cassidy, who coaches the teams, says the race is a great way for students to give to others and represent RMC.

“We had a wonderful experience volunteering,” says Cassidy, who was a member of the race planning committee and also ran the four-mile race. “The teams helped with the Kids’ Fun Run and cheered on the four-mile runners along the course. I was surprised to hear them cheering me on during the last half-mile of my race. They came out onto the course and ran the last part of the race with me, coaching me on to the end.”

A Personal Connection
Cassidy has a personal connection to the cause.

“Several years ago, my daughter, Olivia—now age 12—began struggling with numerous health problems and was treated at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond,” she says. “The students I coached on the Cheer and Dance teams at that time decided to support Olivia by participating in the race. Since that time, the race has been the kick-off event of our philanthropic efforts for the season.” Team members often create bright T-shirts and headbands to wear to the race. “Despite receiving an official race T-shirt, we prefer to wear Yellow Jacket colors!” says Cassidy.

Olivia was also asked to be a special guest of the race and helped count down the runners for the four-mile race. She also blew the start air-horn and handed out the prizes to the winners at the end of the race.

After volunteering at the race, the 22 cheerleaders and seven dancers headed back to campus and cheered on the Yellow Jacket football team as they defeated Methodist University.

The Dance Team and Cheer Team
The Dance Team, in existence for many years, has been an official part of RMC’s spirit program under Cassidy’s guidance for about eight years. The Dance Team competes regionally and has been awarded national titles twice in the past four years.
The Cheer Team, which has been awarded regional titles several times in the last four years, cheers at the football and men’s and women’s basketball games.

Both teams support a variety of RMC events and groups such as Macon Movers, Camptown, faculty/staff events, Accepted Students Day, and the annual Ashland Kiwanis Club’s Ashland Olde Town parade. In their philanthropy efforts, both teams support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, American Heart Association, Relay for Life, CASA, Reese Strong Foundation, MaDD, Hanover County Education Association, and the Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The Dance captains are Brittany McGuire ’18 (main captain), Amanda Baumgartner ’19 (choreography captain), and Alenna Jones ’18 (co-captain).The Cheer captains are Adrianna Lazarte ’17, Hannah Moore ’18, Katelyn McCay ’17, and Caitlin Pope ’17.

Pope, a communication studies major, cheered on the children participating in the fun run.

“It was a great feeling to see the kids smiling and laughing as they ran through the finish line,” she says. “We also provided spirit on the course by cheering on those who ran the four-mile race. Although we participate in many other charity events, this one really hits home for us, as it gives us the opportunity to help out many people, and to honor Olivia, who is like a little sister to us.”

Susan Cassidy
Cassidy is a former University of Pittsburgh Cheer captain. Throughout her collegiate experience, she cheered across the United States and internationally. She has more than 30 years’ experience in dance and cheer instruction, choreography and competition at the local and national levels. In addition to serving as coach of the Dance Team, she has coached RMC’s cheerleading team for 13 years. She began the Dance Team in 2010, as part of RMC’s spirit program.

Giving Back
In 2015-16, RMC students collectively amassed more than 27,400 volunteer hours and donated $49,897.71 to various causes. Students in Fraternity and Sorority Life contributed more than 13,600 hours of collective service to the community and donated $1737.73 to various organizations and philanthropies. In addition, $21,000 was raised and donated to the American Cancer Society from the annual Relay for Life. Over 200 students participated RMC’s first Big Event, a day of service to give thanks to the Ashland community. The Students Engaged in Responsible Volunteer Experiences (SERVE) program, in the Office of Student Life, is an integral part of Randolph-Macon College.