Participation, dollars surging for Wright State’s Relay for Life cancer fundraiser

Last year 35 teams participated, but 43 teams have already pre-registered and several are expected to signup the day of the event.

Relay for Life is an event like no other at Wright State. A roller coaster of exuberant support, sorrowful reflection and slaphappy activity, it takes participants on a cancer research fundraising ride that makes memories that last a lifetime.

“Relay for Life brings so many people together in this outstanding way,” said Holly Jackson, a second-year graduate student who is serving as the recruitment co-chair for the 2012 Wright State Relay.

From the survivor’s walk, to the luminaria and then the all-night party, Relay features a flow of activity that keeps people walking and thinking about fighting cancer through the night.

This year’s Relay kicks off Friday, April 20, on the Quad at 6 p.m. Teams will walk for 18 hours to raise money for cancer research.

The 2012 Relay could be the most successful Wright State Relay yet. Student leaders say they’ve already raised $13,000 and expect the bulk of the fundraising to take place at the event. Last year the Relay collected about $17,000. The goal this year is to raise $25,000.

Involvement is up too. Last year 35 teams participated, but 43 teams have already pre-registered and several are expected to signup the day of the event.

“We’ve gotten a lot more staff involvement this year,” said Jackson. “Since it started, this event has really been student driven, but this year the staff involvement has been better than ever.”

Like so many people involved with Relay, Jackson has been touched by cancer.

Last year she walked for a neighbor, as well as her best friend’s dad who died of cancer. This year she’ll be thinking of someone far closer to her heart.

“One of the father-figures of my life, Hank was just diagnosed with almost stage four cancer, so I’ll be thinking of him,” said Jackson.

Chelsea Kraft, the Colleges Against Cancer treasurer, has a similar story.

“I’ve had three family members diagnosed within a 13-month period, including my mom,” said Kraft.

Diagnosed several years ago with skin cancer, her mother is a survivor.

“I Relay because I’ve had many family and friends with cancer. Some beat it. Some did not. Relay for Life reminds us that cancer affects all of us on some level,” said Kraft.

“I have been a part of this Relay for three years, and it amazes me at the way it continues to grow. It’s so neat to see so many people get together for such a great cause.”

The latest numbers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) show that the cause is needed now more than ever and awareness is way up.

Relay for Life kicks off with a cancer survivor walk on the Quad at 6 p.m.

The ACS says there are roughly 12 million cancer survivors in the United States and those numbers are climbing. Still, one out of two males and one out of three females will face cancer in their lifetime in the United States, according to the ACS.

That makes cancer research and cancer awareness tantamount to fighting back.

Staff organization We Serve U has thrown its full support behind the event as its quarterly service project for the spring and will serve this year’s Survivor Dinner.

Like previous years the event will feature activities that are sure to keep you moving even in the wee hours of the night—one involving stuffing your mouth full of marshmallows and red cream soda to the tune of the Police’s “Roxanne”—another a race between teams to break T-shirts out of ice blocks and put them on.

“Miss Relay should be really fun too,” said Jackson. “Each teams sends a male representative to dress up as a very pretty pageant queen to go around and solicit donations from all of the teams.” The male student with the most money is crowned Miss Relay.

With participation and donations surging, organizers aren’t resting on their laurels. With just a few days to go before the 2012 Relay, they’ve rolled out a catchy slogan to try and drive even more participation: 10, 10, 10—10 minutes, 10 dollars and 10 friends.

“If you’re willing to come to the Relay for ten minutes, donate ten dollars toward cancer research and convince ten friends to do the same, the Wright State 2012 Relay will be a huge success,” said Kraft.