The Alternative Press

Ben Zukoff will be remembered in the Rutgers University Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, this April 12 and 13.  Ben died tragically on January 28 of this year from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. 

Ben was not quite 20 when he passed away.  More than 500 people attended his funeral.  Each one had a personal story about how this remarkable young man influenced their life.   

Ben was a second-year student at Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in furniture design.  Ben was well-known throughout the community where he participated in a wide range of community service activities.  He graduated from Summit Middle School and Summit High School, where he was a leader in the stage crew.  He also was a volunteer at the SAGE workshop, an accomplished glass artist and recipient of the American Legion American Character Award.  

Those who knew Ben also knew his long-time friend and girlfriend, Halli James, who lives in Westfield.  Halli is participating in the Relay for Life to raise funds to fight cancer in memory of Ben.  Donations can be made by visiting Halli's Relay for Life Web page at Halli James Relay for Life (http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=27907408&pg=personal&fr_id=48249)

Halli, who is an Animal Science major at Rutgers University, wrote about her relationship with Ben and why she is participating in the Relay for Life, saying:

I lost the most important person in my life in less than eight months. This past year has been so incredibly difficult. Every single day was a struggle and Ben was an amazingly strong fighter. He didn't want to leave. 

Cancer is a vicious killer. It doesn't care who you are or who your family is. So please, give a penny, give a dollar -- anything you can donate makes a difference. Help me keep this from happening to somebody else. 

I never would have guessed that I'd be participating in Relay for Life to honor and remember the one person I thought I'd be spending my life with. Nobody expects this to happen to them, but it can. I want to do everything in my power to keep this from happening to another family.  

The Relay for Life is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk.  Teams of people camp out around a track while members of each team take turns walking around the track over a 24-hour period.  Special events commemorate those who died of cancer and celebrate those who survived the disease.  Food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie.  The Rutgers University Relay for Life will be held at the Livingston Recreation Center of Rutgers University at 62 Road 3, New Brunswick, NJ.