More activities, entertainment and a new location helped the Relay for Life event raise $42,000 Friday.
The opening ceremony for the Lights, Camera, Relay red carpet-themed event started at 5 p.m. Friday with a speech from OU Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi.
“This is a very important event and we appreciate all that (the planning committee and teams) are doing,” Lombardi said. “Both of my brothers are cancer survivors so this hits close to home.”
To kick off the 18-hour walk, local survivors took the first lap followed by all 52 teams.
Although the event did not reach its goal of $66,000, co-presidents Natalie Myers, a junior studying psychology, and fellow junior studying fashion merchandising Courtney Bailey, said they are still very proud of what they and the committee put on.
“We raised $42,000,” Meyers said. “But we are collecting money through August so we will definitely get closer.”
The event took place at Pruitt Field instead of the Athens County Fair Grounds this year. Meyers and Bailey said the location change helped keep the event going.
“(Pruitt Field) is more compact and the planning committee and the teams could really interact and be a part of the event,” Meyers said.
Samantha O’Loughlin, a sophomore studying athletic training and team captain for Team Athletic Training, said the event has been a huge part of her life.
“So many people are affected by cancer,” O’Loughlin said. “My best friend’s mom and my grandma died of cancer.”
Fellow captain and sophomore Sara Dorsten recently became involved with Relay for Life after her high school softball teammate was diagnosed with cancer.
“She beat (cancer) this year,” Dorsten said. “Everyone should help raise money for cancer.”
Luminaries, a silent candlelit lap to remember those who have lost their battle with cancer, was an emotional time for many people involved.
“It really hit me at Luminaries that what we were doing was going to save so many lives,” Meyers said.
The Miss Relay Pageant, a drag pageant where men from different teams competed for the title Miss Relay, also took place.
Amanda Sinkey, a senior studying photography, said the pageant is what she looks forward to at every Relay for Life.
"I’ve been involved with (Relay for Life) for three years now, and I just love the pageant,” Sinkey said.
The American Cancer Society’s Income Development Representative and Liaison Hilary Patrick said hosting a college Relay for Life is a challenging task, but the planning committee did an amazing job.
“These students have schoolwork, other activities and so many other things on their plate,” Patrick said. “Yet they take time, a lot of time, out of that schedule for a great cause and that’s inspiring.”
Bailey, whose mother lost her fight against breast cancer, said the event really does make a difference and should be something everyone should be involved in.
“I believe there is a cure for cancer. And it’s events like these that are getting us one step closer to finding it,” Bailey said.
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