Staff Writer
The American Cancer Society hosted the cancer fundraiser Relay for Life at Waller Stadium on May 14-15 to raise money for cancer.
Relay For Life is a global event that raises money for patient care and cancer research by holding Relays at both high schools and colleges. According to the organization, one of their main goals is to celebrate the lives of those lost to cancer, rather than mourn their deaths.
“At each event, we celebrate and remember the lives of loved ones and also fight back against this terrible disease. Relay for life is a twenty-four hour event,” President of the Relay for Life Club junior Sara Reynolds said. “Cancer doesn’t sleep so neither do we.”
Last year, Mira Costa teams raised $50,000 through donations. This year’s teams have raised ap $33,000 from over 420 participants. Relay participants pay $100 to stay overnight and compete to win the overall highest contributor award, which is awarded to the person who raises the most money.
“We are really trying to match that goal of $50,000 and hopefully exceed it,” Reynolds said. “Costa’s relay continues to grow each year.”
Thirty teams are competing in this year’s Relay. The event lasts twenty four hours, and participants are able to stay the night. The events taking place at this year’s Relay include the opening ceremony, a survivor’s and caregiver’s lap, and a luminaria ceremony which honors those lost to cancer.
“I got involved in my Freshman year and haven’t stopped since,” Reynolds said. “I fight and contribute to this cause for not only my friends who’ve been touched by cancer, but also for the people who have shared their story with me and shown me how cancer can affect everyone across the globe. The most rewarding part is when people share their personal history with cancer, and express how grateful they are to see a community fighting back just as much as they are.”
Last year’s biggest donor was Sophomore Lorenzo Mier y Teran, who raised $3,000 and whose mom is a Cancer survivor. This year’s leading donor is Devon Smith, who has raised over $1,050. The current leading team is the Cancer Cops, who have raised over $3,800.
“Relay is really special to me because it’s a whole community uniting around a common cause,” team captain of the Cancer Cops and Sophomore Shelby Friedman said. “Relay really helped me channel my anger towards something positive when my mom was diagnosed because I channeled my feelings of anger and upset into my fundraising. I raised $3,500 one year as an individual and won an award for the highest fundraising individual.”
According to Reynolds, Relay For Life focuses on the milestones that people achieve in fighting cancer and they do this through the opening survivor ceremony. During the ceremony, survivors and caregivers are recognized, supported and celebrated through specialized events such as the survivor’s lap and the caregiver’s lap, where survivors and caregivers are honored with their own laps.
“Relay is so successful because it doesn’t just focus on the tragedy of the disease,” Reynolds said. “Every year, cancer takes away millions of birthdays, but Relay is here to celebrate the birthdays that have been saved.”
Leave a Reply