The Lamron

Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Brandi Borden Bhangra performs at Relay for Life, which had the best faculty and staff turnout yet, and raised about $71,000 for the American Cancer Society.

This past weekend, Kuhl gym hosted Geneseo's annual Relay for Life, an overnight event organized by the American Cancer Society devoted to raising awareness and funding to help defeat cancer.

By the end of the event, $70,854.91 was raised, though the total has risen to over $71,000 since then.

"I'm happy to see so many people participated and we're excited to have raised so much," said junior Marissa Evarts, Colleges Against Cancer Relay co-chair. "It was a lot of work. Relay is planned throughout the entire year, but it's worth it because you become so inspired and see so many people touched by the event."

"It's a wonderful, fun, emotional event, but in the end the main goal is to raise money," said senior Amanda Flannery, president of Colleges Against Cancer. "We would love to see a day when everyone raises $100. Imagine the funds we could raise for an amazing cause!"

Junior Bethan Maher, Relay chair, added, "I didn't sleep for two weeks leading up to the event. It's a matter of constantly checking up on things and filling in the gaps … but this year's Relay was wonderful."

Members of College Against Cancer said they were particularly happy with this year's surge in faculty participation. "We had the best staff and faculty turnout ever this year," said Flannery. "We are very thankful to those who took the time to come out on a Saturday night and I hope there will be a great deal of faculty and staff involvement in the future."

Every year, Relay for Life has three core motifs: celebrate, remember and fight back. These values are represented in three ceremonies, hosting two speakers each, which occur throughout the night.

The celebrate ceremony commenced the event with a "survivor lap" to celebrate those who won the battle with cancer. James McCauley Jr. from Camp Good Days opened the service emphasizing the importance of programs like Camp Good Days and Relay for Life in helping cancer patients get through difficulties and urged students to "continue the work after tonight." Geneseo sophomore and cancer survivor Amy Bradt addressed participants with remarks of hope and happiness.

Continued...

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