Play Away Cystic Fibrosis
November 5, 2025 | Rowan University — Bunce Lawn
Bringing the Rowan Community Together for a Cause
As part of my Sports Event Planning course, my class partnered with the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) for the first time to plan and execute its annual Cystic Fibrosis Awareness event.
The event was created in memory of Collette Bleistene, a former PRSSA member who passed away from Cystic Fibrosis.
Each year, PRSSA continues her legacy by bringing the Rowan community together to raise awareness and funds for the cause
For 2025, we introduced “Play Away: Cystic Fibrosis” — a field day-style event designed to bring students together through games, activities, fundraising, and community engagement.
The Event
Play Away transformed Rowan University’s Bunce Lawn into an afternoon of games, activities, and fundraising. Students were encouraged to participate in a variety of field-day activities, including tug-of-war, an inflatable obstacle course, a scavenger hunt, and more.
The event also featured a bake sale and a raffle, creating additional opportunities to raise funds while encouraging students to get involved.
We were fortunate enough to receive support from several community sponsors and organizations, including Jersey Mike’s, Links Golf Club, Rancocas Golf Club, Golden Pheasant Golf Club, and Flying Airport Resort.
More Than an Event
One of the most meaningful parts of the experience was welcoming Colette Bleistene’s parents, who attended the event and were able to see firsthand how her memory continues to inspire the PRSSA and Rowan community.
What started as a class project became much more than an assignment. It was an opportunity to bring students together, honor a former member of our community, and create an experience centered around awareness, fundraising, and connection.
For me, Play Away was a true team-building experience that demonstrated the importance of collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, and attention to detail when planning a live event.
My Role: Logistics Team
Our class was divided into three teams: Marketing, Fundraising, and Logistics. I was part of the Logistics Team, where our primary responsibility was helping bring the event from an idea to an organized, executable experience.
My team worked on:
Planning event logistics and the overall event timeline.
Coordinating the event date, location, and set-up
Determining decorations and event day materials
Identifying what supplies were needed and how to obtain them within a limited budget.
Coordinating activities and ensuring the event space could accommodate them.
Assigned our classmates jobs and responsibilities for the day of the event.
Supported event-day setup and execution
Collaborated with PRSSA, Marketing, and Fundraising teams to ensure all aspects of the event worked together.
