Relay for Life raises more than $75,000
By Scott Van Pelt
Features Editor
The campus community raised more than $75,000 for the American Cancer Society during last weekend’s Relay for Life. Hundreds of participants split into 59 teams for the event running 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the Gerhard Fieldhouse.
The University’s Relay for Life was a national activity sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS) consisting of a 12-hour long walk around the fieldhouse track. Participants were sponsored usually by family and friends.
According to the organization’s Web site, the event’s goals are to fundraise for cancer research and “raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.”
University members achieved both of those goals over the weekend, and, in return, were treated to a night of entertainment, reflection and unity. The night opened with two emotional ceremonies: the Survivor Ceremony and Luminaria Ceremony.
Following the ceremonies, the night took on a more lighthearted attitude, featuring performances from Beyond Unison, the Bison Chips and the Silhouettes.
Organizers agree that the event was a huge success. “Relay for Life went really well this year! We raised over $75,000 and counting. Considering it was our first year having it overnight, I was really happy that so many people stayed until it was over at 7 a.m. and people were walking the entire time,” Ally Hopper ’11 said.
Many participants were part of Greek organizations, athletic teams, residential colleges and first-year halls.
Each individual had to raise at least $100, though some went above and beyond normal standards.
Ivan Reibeisen ’09 of the Phi Kappa Psi team raised $5,000 for his team. He was the top fundraiser of the event, and his contributions resulted in Phi Kappa Psi being the top fundraising team.
Participants had numerous reasons for taking part in the relay, but a common thread ran through their contributions.
“I have a sense that I need to help other people,” Josh Douin ’10 of the Chi Phi team said, summing up the general attitude of many participants.
Other members of the relay had personal reasons for wanting to walk.
Matt Cunningham ’11 explained both of his grandmothers are cancer survivors. Due to modern research and medicine, their treatment resulted in remission, he said.
“I walk in thanks for what other people did for my grandmothers,” Cunningham said.
Hopper explained that cancer had affected people close to her for her entire life.
“My grandfather died of pancreatic cancer when I was eight, at the same time that my cousin was winning his battle with brain cancer,” she said.
“This past summer my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and one of my best friends from home was rediagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma, so it really became apparent to me again how important it is to raise money to help those who are surviving, and to remember those who we have lost.”
Others walked for friends or even acquaintances who had suffered from cancer.
Alli Clymer ’11 walked for the mother of the kids she had babysat in the past.
“I want to help in any way I can,” Clymer said.
