By Amy Fuhrman,
Relay For Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 5 to 7 a.m. April 6 on the Quad Lawn.
Participants form teams that walk all night to raise money for cancer research and awareness.
Each team is given a campsite on the quad to decorate and stay in overnight.
During the night, each team runs separate fundraising games and activities. Food is provided by local vendors.
Participants can earn free food during the night by raising money in the days leading up to the event. Each participant has a goal to raise at least $100.
Students can sign up with an existing team or start their own. There is no limit on how many or how few members can be on a team.
Hailey Blanton, early childhood education senior, is involved with Relay For Life on campus.
She is the captain of Team Jill Blanton and helped plan this year’s event on the Relay For Life committee.
“I Relay for my mom, Jill Blanton, who lost her battle to ovarian cancer in 2007,” Blanton said. “I do not want anyone to go though what I did.”
There are several ceremonies during the night to celebrate survivors and honor those who did not survive their battle with cancer.
Anyone can dedicate a luminaria that will be lit during the night in honor of a loved one affected by cancer.
There is a survivorship reception for survivors and caregivers, as well as a Fight Back ceremony that will close the event.
The goal for this year’s event is to have 400 participants and raise $40,000.
To help with the fundraising efforts, each team will have an activity or item for purchase at their campsite during the event. Anyone who wants to participate in those activities is encouraged to bring cash to donate.
While the activities, music and food are fun, the real focus of the event is to find a cure for cancer.
“I think it’s one of the most fun events on campus, along with being a good deed that we’re giving back and telling our stories,” said Becca Koopferstock, design and production senior.
Koopferstock said the event is bigger than just cancer research.
“What Relay For Life is doing is so much bigger than that, it helps people who are suffering and caregivers, its an easy way to give back and come together as a community,” Koopferstock said.
Blanton said Relay For Life represents how cancer never sleeps.
“Relay For Life is representative of a person’s battle with cancer,” Blanton said. “From diagnosis at the start of the night, to hope as the sun rises in the morning.”
To find out more about Relay For Life or to register, visit relayforlife.org.
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