Some students are athletes, others are performers and still more are scholars. Nathan Chizek is a survivor.

Chizek, junior in industrial technology, was diagnosed with brain cancer on June 23, 1993, a week before his eighth birthday.

“It kind of blindsided us really,” Chizek said. “When the diagnosis came I remember how much of a shock it was.”

Doctors initially attributed his frequent headaches to allergies and prescribed Chizek with allergy shots. However, after getting a second opinion and an MRI, doctors diagnosed Chizek with a brain tumor in the spinal cord and cerebellum.

Chizek recalls being told the news by his parents at their kitchen table.

“I was clueless,” Chizek said. “I didn’t know there was any potential for the brain tumor.”

Chizek’s parents told him they loved him and assured him everything would be OK. Less than a week after his diagnosis, Chizek underwent an exploratory surgery in Des Moines, where doctors removed a tiny portion of the tumor. After the surgery, doctors told his parents he only had two years to live.

It was at that time Chizek’s grandmother found a well-known pediatric neurosurgeon in New York City, Dr. Fred Epstein. Chizek and his family eventually headed to New York.

“He was able to remove 95 percent of my brain tumor the first time,” Chizek said.

The tumor grew back months later, causing Chizek to undergo surgery a second time in New York. Doctors reduced the tumor from golf ball-sized to nickel-sized.

“Then they decided radiation would hopefully destroy it,” Chizek said.

He underwent six weeks of radiation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to destroy the last of the tumor. Today his tumor is considered benign.

“There’s still potential of it coming back, but with each year that passes, the chance becomes less and less,” Chizek said.

His struggle with brain cancer lasted a little more than a year, causing him to miss a majority of second grade, while also forcing him to grow up.

“I was kind of expected to mature faster because I was faced with a very life-threatening disease,” Chizek said.

He noted that coming to terms with the illness could not have been possible without the loving support of his family.

“I really can’t thank them enough for that,” he said.

Today Chizek is a co-chairman for Colleges Against Cancer at Iowa State. According to the American Cancer Society Web site, CAC is a nationwide collaboration of different colleges, faculty and staff who work with the American Cancer Society to implement and support ACS programs throughout the college community.

CAC is currently organizing the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, set to take place from 7 p.m. April 13 to 7 a.m. April 15 at Lied Recreation Athletic Center.

The 12-hour event involves teams of students, faculty and staff who will walk or run around the Lied track in support of ACS cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services.

Anasia Sturdivant, co-chairwoman of survivorship for CAC, noted the importance of the event.

“Coming to Relay can be one of the memorable events of your life. In some way all of us have been touched by the bad hand of cancer and to be a part of fighting it and saving lives trumps everything else,” Sturdivant said.

Relay for Life consists of a barbecue, fundraising before and during the event, a survivorship lap for cancer survivors and a luminaria ceremony remembering those who have lost their lives or are fighting cancer now.

Lindsay Babcock, secretary and co-survivorship chairwoman for CAC, said she is looking forward to the entertainment during the event.

“There are many different types of entertainment going on throughout the night,” Babcock said. “We’re trying to get a hypnotist to come, so that would be really fun to watch.”

Chizek, who will participate with his own team of 11 members, said he has high expectations for the event and is eager to see its outcome.

“The committee – we work so hard up to this event and it’s nice to see it all come together,” Chizek said.

He also explained his motives for being involved.

“I’m doing Relay to raise awareness about cancer, to fundraise for ACS, celebrate survivors and honor lost loved ones.”

Fortunately, Chizek is one of the many survivors to be celebrated.