One of the largest fundraising events on campus this year is about to take place.
Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, has run annually at Ohio University for the past nine years. Over that span, $541,342 has been raised for cancer research.
The 10th edition of the event will take place Friday at Pruitt Field. For the entire 18 hours of the relay, at least one member of the eight- to 15-person teams will walk around the track.
“We have 711 participants signed up,” said Natalie Myers, a senior studying psychology and co-president of the planning committee. “Assuming they all attend, that’s over 700 college students in one place for one cause, fighting cancer, and that’s amazing to think about.”
Myers said that planning for this year’s event happened as soon as last year’s relay ended, including deciding when and where the relay will take place and who will be in charge of various duties.
The idea behind the fundraiser is to remember and combat cancer through charity. During the opening ceremony, there is a celebration of cancer survivors, providing those in attendance with gifts and a dinner.
Myers said that the goal this year is to raise at least $66,000. Typically, 40 to 50 percent of the funds come in on the day of the event, with the rest of the money being raised through online donations.
About $33,000 had been raised as of press time, according to the program’s website.
Myers said she first became involved with the organization when she was ten years old and a family friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“So many are touched by it,” said Myers, who has also had a grandmother and aunt affected by cancer.
Myers said she believes that the event helps to display Ohio University in the right ways.
“People aren’t doing this event because of drinking,” Myers said. “It seems as if no one ever mentions all of the good things that we do here. We have our reputation as the number one party school and that’s how most outsiders view us. Yet, we do so many amazing things, such as Relay. I appreciate everyone who shows up.”
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