Relay for Life this weekend

The 12-hour event will take place on Stankowski Field

By Anna Koeppel

Published April 11, 2008

Stankowski Field will be filled on Saturday with people from across campus, Columbia and Missouri who all have the same goal: fighting cancer.

Relay For Life Chairwoman Lauren Carson said this year’s event will feature Hollywood-themed games and events to celebrate the “Lights, Camera, Take Action!” theme.

Relay For Life will be held from 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.

The event is scheduled to take place at Stankowski Field, but in case of inclement weather the relay will be moved after 9 p.m. inside the Student Recreation Complex.

The event will feature a Hollywood trivia contest, mule rides courtesy of the College of Veterinary Medicine Mule Team, two bands, a Comedy Wars performance at 12:30 a.m. and a piloga class offered by a Tiger X instructor at 3:30 a.m. Piloga is a combination of pilates and yoga.

Other highlights include a midnight pizza party and Andy’s Frozen Custard, Carson said.

Carson said this is the first year the event has had 100 teams sign up to participate.

“I think it has a lot to do with the fact that more people know about Relay For Life on Mizzou’s campus,” she said. “More and more people are becoming aware of that cancer is something that affects everybody.”

Carson said the survivors’ lap, held at the beginning of the night, is one of the most moving things she’s ever seen.

“The first lap of the night are survivors, and everyone is cheering them on and giving them support,” she said.

Carson said the money raised from Relay For Life would go toward “incredible” causes.

“In the end it makes it worth it to know what you’re fighting for and who you’re helping,” Carson said. “You’re providing the opportunity for researchers to come up with a new and better drug that fights colon cancer, or increases the likelihood that a breast cancer survivor is going to go into remission.”

Carson said anyone who wants to support Relay For Life can contact her or attend the relay and help teams raise money.

“The great thing about this is that all of the teams put on on-site fundraisers,” she said. “You can come with your friends and hang out without actually being on a team.”

Previous on-site fundraisers have included carnival games, henna tattoos and food for sale.