More than 200 students from 20 different campus clubs and organizations gathered in the quad, on Friday April 26, to participate in Relay for Life to help raise awareness and funds to fight cancer. The total raised was $5,453.83. More than $500 was raised at the Relay for Life event alone by clubs hosting booths with games and raffles to motivate students to donate. Students, faculty and friends were also encouraged to take part in the actual walking for Relay for Life.
The event began at 3 p.m. with the survivor lap. Survivors of cancer donned purple capes and walked around the field to show support. Teams wore capes to reflect the superhero theme of the event. Participants walked laps throughout the day while stopping at various booths to play games and give whatever coins they had to the cause.
Colleges Against Cancer, also known as CAC, set an original goal of $2,500 but bumped it up to $5,000, which they well surpassed. Survivors who walked were given a special gift and friends and family of those who suffered from cancer were able to create luminaria for those who “won, are still fighting, or lost” with a dollar suggested donation, Rachel Moore of CAC said.
A large Greek presence was there with multiple sororities and fraternities tabling for the cause. “Phinding a Cure,” the Phi Lambda Omicron sorority team, raised the most money as a team with more than $660. Not only did the sorority members donate, but their table charged 50 cents to play a game of Bra Pong with prizes like Dutch Bros. gift cards to players with the most points.
“It’s a really fun way to spend a Friday afternoon with other students,” said president Kate Schiewe.
Theta Nu Alpha sorority had “minute-to-win-it” activities and took suggested donations at their booth. By the end of event, Thetas had raised $245 for the cause.
“This is a really important cause for us because one of our sisters is a survivor,” Theta Ka’imi Manner said.
Much of their donations came from alumni support. The Pi Kappa Rho fraternity had a booth, taking donations for Flips Against Cancer. Their goal was to raise $500.
Pacific Christian Fellowship, known as PCF, also made an appearance with face painting and a Nerf gun game.
Kristy Granger of PCF said, “We partner with Colleges Against Cancer and have always participated in Relay.”
PCF was also collecting Soles for Life, where students could donate old shoes to contribute funding to help purify water in African countries.
With last year’s Relay for Life still fresh in CAC’s mind—with low participation and the event being cut short—a stronger sense of dedication to the event came through this year.
“We spent a ton more time on advertising, and really made an effort to reach out to clubs and let people know what Relay for Life was all about” said CAC president Claire Ramaley. The club partnered with the American Cancer Society. The perseverance and passion paid off with many more clubs and individual participants than expected.
“I’m definitely very proud of everything we’ve been able to accomplish, and I can’t wait for next year,” Ramaley said.
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