SVSU to host fifth Relay for Life

January 28, 2008 —

The kick-off party for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life encouraged students to celebrate, remember, and fight back.

The event will take place from Saturday, March 29 at 6 p.m. until Sunday, March 30 at 6 a.m. in the Ryder Center Arena. This is the fifth year SVSU has hosted the event.

Money raised through Relay for Life helps provide various patient services.

According to Community Representative for the American Cancer Society Carrie Oldinkski, these services include college scholarships for cancer survivors, a camp for young cancer patients and survivors ages six through 15, and free transportation for local cancer patients needing rides to and from treatment.

"Your American Cancer Society is the largest source of private, not-for-profit cancer research funds in the United States," Oldinski said. "Since 1946, we have provided more than $3 billion to researchers. Scientists supported by the Society have made great contributions, including establishing the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer."

Members of SA work with Oldinski to put on Relay for Life. Becky Griffin, a biology sophomore, and Angela Seeley, an occupational therapy senior, are the co-chairs of a committee for the event.

"We're trying to make it a lot bigger," Griffin said. "We started a lot earlier in the year and we've increased our goals for money raise and for teams participating."

"We want as much participation as we possibly we can for those 12 hours," Seeley added.

Last year, SVSU's Relay for Life raised $27,000. This year, the goal is to have 50 teams participating, raising $1000 each. As of Friday, 30 teams were registered online and $1,305 had been raised.

"Anyone can participate," Griffin said. "It's mostly on campus. A lot of student organizations, RSOs, have teams and a lot of offices have teams. Individuals can also create teams with just a bunch of friends."

An average size for teams is 15 people. Teams who want to get involved can register online at events.cancer.org/rflsvsumi. There is no deadline for registration.

SA also holds team captain meetings throughout the fundraising season to keep in touch with the teams.

The first captain's meeting will take place Wednesday at 10 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.