Colleges Against Cancer to host eighth Relay for Life

By Aliza Davner
Editor in Chief/ Lycourier


Almost everyone has been affected by cancer, whether directly or indirectly. It is the universal nature of this disease which allows it to bring so many people together in the fight for a cure. On campus, students participate in Relay for Life to contribute to the cause.

Hosted by Colleges Against Cancer, Lycoming’s Relay for Life will take place from 6pm to 6am Saturday. Lyco’s first relay event was held in 2005, making this the eighth Relay for Life held on campus.

Junior Kayleigh Misner, Relay chairman and vice president of CAC, is in charge of this year’s event, along with CAC President Ashley Newcomb and the Relay Committee.

Relay for Life is an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society which began in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash. It is an overnight, relay-style event in which teams of participants camp out around a track and take turns walking or running the track, raising money for each lap completed.

At Lycoming, numerous campus clubs and organizations sponsor teams, as well as set-up tables selling food and drinks to keep participants up throughout the night. Each team is asked to contribute a $100 donation toward Relay for Life.

The event is held in the Rec Center, with teams walking and running around the suspended track with club tables and activities set up on the floor below.

According to Newcomb, this year’s event theme is “board games” and will feature a number of activities throughout the night, coordinated by Jenna Zimmer, activities chairman. The sophomore said activities will include: “Minute-to-Win-it games, Mr. and Mrs. Relay, Human Bingo, and karaoke.

Relay for Life also will include a Survivor’s Walk, which involves cancer survivors walking a lap around the track in honor of their achievement. According to Newcomb, more than 20 survivors are expected to walk “to celebrate their success at beating cancer.”

Relay participants also may purchase luminaria, or paper-bag lanterns, for $1. The luminaria can be dedicated in honor or memory of family members and friends who have battled cancer. The lanterns will be lit during a special ceremony at the event.

Colleges Against Cancer aims to raise $31,000 at this year’s event after an extremely successful event last spring. In 2011, CAC “blew past our goal of $18,500 and made $28,000,” Newcomb said.
CAC officers for 2012-2013 include Meghan Cox, who will take over the position currently held by Misner, and Sophomore Briana Wingrove, who will replace Newcomb as President.