Ann Arbor, MI — April 30, 2012 — Dental hygiene and dental students, along with faculty and staff from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry recently raised $3,516 for the American Cancer Society.  The University-wide fund raising event, Relay for Life, was held April 14 and 15 at Palmer Field on the Central Campus.  U-M raised more than $365,200, which included funds from School of Dentistry participants.

The School’s Smile for Life team raised money from various activities, including t-shirt sales, prior to the Relay.  In addition, the U-M chapter of the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association created and sold two-inch diameter awareness buttons, “Oral Cancer Happens, Get Screened.” 

During the Relay, the Smile for Life team also sold oral hygiene kits and distributed brochures that emphasized the importance of oral screenings by dental professionals.  Each year approximately 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral/pharyngeal cancer.  About 8,000 deaths occur annually.

“I want to thank everyone in the School of Dentistry clinics and dental hygiene degree completion program who worked to make our Relay for Life a success,” said Ashley Copus, DH4, co-captain of the Smile for Life team.