Hundreds joined together this past Friday to combat cancer, participating in Ohio University’s 10th Relay For Life event.
Pruitt Field played host to the event, which aims to raise money for the American Cancer Association. The funds then go toward research, programs and services that help to fight the disease.
“Our goal of the year was to raise $66,000,” said Natalie Myers, a senior studying psychology and co-president of the organization’s planning committee. “We don’t have a final tally (of money raised) until August, but from Relay we raised about $45,000.”
The funds come from both Relay and online donations, which can be made throughout the year.
“Money aside, it was a great Relay,” Meyers said. “It was really cold, unfortunately, but the past three years, it has always rained so I was glad it didn’t this year.”
Participants in Relay join separate fundraising teams with different shifts for the team members. The team members taking different shifts organized it so that there was always one person from each team walking.
“We had a team of five, so we were taking hour-long shifts,” said Spencer Smith, a junior studying English, whose team raised about $500 at Relay. “I had the 2 to 3 a.m. shift. … It was definitely tiring, but I would still do it next year.”
The event peaks during the Luminaria ceremony, which occurs after nightfall when the track is lined with glowing paper bags.
“I’m really pleased with how everything went this year,” Meyers said. “Everyone had a really good time, and we did a good job advertising and getting information out to teams and captains. Everyone was really into Relay this year.”
As for next year, planning hasn’t quite started yet. The heads of each of the subcommittees of Relay for Life must be chosen along with the location and the date, which will most likely be affected by the switch to semesters, Meyers said.
“I would love to have it at Pruitt field again … or in The Convo if the weather is bad, but I am not sure that could even happen,” Meyers said.
“Overall, the experience was very moving, because it signified the fight with cancer,” said Kristen Helmsdoerfer, a sophomore studying English. “While I was walking from 4 to 7 a.m., I saw this transition from night to a beautiful sunrise — a reminder that we can beat this disease, if we only work together.”
cw105510@ohiou.edu
