Relay for Life breaks record

Survivors and supporters gathered to raise money for cancer research.

By Jessi Turnure

Published March 23, 2010

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life fought against cancer with record-breaking proportions.

According to the Relay for Life Web site, MU raised $63,099.20, the highest in the school’s history.

From Saturday through Sunday, 144 teams and 1,519 participants filled the Student Recreation Complex to walk for the cure.

"In previous years, this event was held on Stankowski Field, but to be prepared for the snow, they moved it inside the Rec Center," freshman Kate Doveikis said. "Students, adults, kids and survivors all came together to raise money for those affected by cancer."

The Survivors Lap opened the event, a ceremony where survivors were invited to walk the first lap around the track together in celebration of overcoming cancer.

"The whole gym clapped and cheered for them," freshman Joanie Stream said. "It was extremely moving and inspirational because I, myself, along with I'm sure everyone else there, has known or knows someone affected by cancer. Watching those brave people with the biggest smiles on their faces walking around the track was extremely heartwarming because you knew that you were giving so much back to them just by participating in this event."

During the second service of the night, the Luminaria Ceremony, participants walked a lap in silence each holding a candle bearing the name of a person affected by cancer. Survivors then shared personal accounts of their road to recovery.

Other events throughout the night included Nintendo booths, Zumba, hip-hop and swing dancers, comedians and constant music playing as members from each team walked around the track.

"Every team had a booth, and at each booth there were different games to play and food being sold," Stream said. "My sorority, Alpha Phi, put together a team, and at our booth our theme was 'Rockin' the Relay.' We had Guitar Hero and people could play for 75 cents a try or $2 for three tries. All of the proceeds went to the Relay for Life Fund."

Relay for Life closed with the Fight Back Ceremony, which encouraged everyone to make a personal commitment to save lives by devoting themselves to combat cancer in some way, such as getting a screen test, quitting smoking, trying to live a healthier lifestyle or becoming more educated about the disease and its effects.

Each year, more than 3,500,000 people in 5,000 communities in the U.S., along with various communities in 20 other countries, partake of this global fundraiser in order to stop cancer from taking lives.

"My cousin, CJ, was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago, and I know that fundraisers helped him immensely," freshman Kaitlin Conroy said. "He was a very positive person and embraced the journey with great strength. His motto to live by was, 'With hope we can continue to smile.' This says a lot about not only my cousin, but also people with cancer in general. By having fundraisers, such as Relay for Life, we are giving cancer patients hope to continue their journey."

Relay for Life's origins date back to 1985 when Gordy Klatt walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, this event has grown from one man's devotion to the fight against cancer into one of the world's largest charities for finding a cure, with the motto, “celebrate, remember, fight back.”