Wright State to run against cancer with Relay for Life

Relay for Life will take place at Wright State on Feb. 3 beginning at 4 p.m. in the Student Union.

More than a hundred of Wright State faculty, staff and students will rally together for cancer patients, cancer awareness and to recognize cancer survivors at Wright State’s Relay for Life, an eight-hour annual walkathon to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

The relay is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 3, from 4 p.m. to midnight in the Student Union. The opening ceremony will begin in the Apollo Room with the walkathon in the Student Union Atrium.

Relay for Life’s Wright State chapter aims to raise $23,000 for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life has been at Wright State for more than 10 years.

Participants will reflect on past loved ones, encourage current patients and recognize cancer survivors. Cancer survivors will kick off the event by starting the walkathon.

In 1985, Gordy Klatt walked and ran for 24 continuous hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising approximately $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay for Life has motivated people worldwide and has generated billions of dollars for cancer research, prevention and advocacy.

“It’s a great way to meet people and to get volunteer hours. Cancer is such an issue in America,” said Asia Miller, the fundraising coordinator of the event and sophomore at Wright State.

Relay for Life will feature music and games throughout the night to keep participants’ energy flowing and passion stirred. The program will also include speeches from survivors and a moment of silence to remember those lost to cancer.

At 9 p.m., participants can recognize loved ones affected by cancer by lighting luminaria lanterns. “I also think it really shows how many people are affected by cancer,” said Miller.

One in three women will get breast cancer in their life and one in 10 men will have prostate cancer, Miller said.

She has been passionate about getting involved with the cancer society since she was a child.

“When I was younger, I always wanted work at the American Cancer Society because I had a lot of family that I lost to cancer,” she said. “I like doing what I can to help people not go through the pain that I went through.”

Miller visits with cancer patients throughout Ohio and uses her resources to help family and friends who have been diagnosed with cancer.

“I was in my second year of Relay for Life when my grandma got diagnosed with cancer and I was able to ease my family’s mind because you receive a lot of education on things like that and I was able to get her connected to resources,” Miller said.

More than 20 teams participated in last year’s relay, representing approximately 200 individuals.

Individuals can register to participate on teams or as individuals. Registration is open until the race day on Feb. 3 and costs $10 per person.

Register on the Wright State chapter website.