Rashell Young Fellowship Fundraiser at the Marin Triathlon, Nov. 5-6

On Nov. 6, 2010, Berkeley-Haas alumna Rashell Young, BA 94 (Psych.), MBA/MPH 05, lost a ten-year battle with breast cancer at the age of 38. One year later, a group of Haas friends and loved ones will participate in the weekend-long Marin Triathlon Nov. 5 and Nov. 6 to help raise money for the Rashell Young Fellowship.

The fellowship was established in April to help fund initiatives by health-care-focused Berkeley MBA students to serve needy communities around the globe. The aim is to expose students to real-world problems and solutions as a complement to their Berkeley studies. Young was enrolled in the joint Berkeley MBA/MPH Program in Health Management when she travelled to South Africa to deliver human papillomavirus vaccinations to women living in rural areas.

“That touched Rashell; that was very important to her,” says Michael Fisher, Young's surviving boyfriend and a member of the Rashell Young Fellowship steering committee. Her experience later helped inspire the mission of the fellowship. “It’s our way of bringing together what was important to her and leveraging that to inspire others,” Fisher adds.

Ten to 15 supporters of the fellowship will participate in the triathlon’s sprint, Olympic, and team events, supported by at least 75 donors. Steering committee member Kevan Corbett, MBA 05, who met and became close friends with Young at Haas, said that a private anonymous donor granted $50,000 to the fellowship and will add another $50,000 if other contributors can match those funds. Through the triathlon, Fisher and Corbett hope they can make strides toward achieving that goal.

The first round of applications for funding may be accepted as soon as December, with disbursements potentially available early next summer. To support or join the Rashell Young Fellowship at the Marin Triathlon, visit RashellYoungFellowship.org.

Rashell Young, BA 94, MBA/MPH 04
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