Why do you Relay?
Relay for Life a success despite cold weather
By Veronica DeSantos, Campus Life Writer
May 21, 2007 | 11:36 p.m.
At 6 p.m. on Friday, May 18, another Relay for Life in Athens, Ohio, began. Hundreds gathered at the fairgrounds for this special event, in which members from various teams continually walked around a track for 18 hours in support of those who have fought, or are still fighting cancer.
When asked why she thinks Relay for Life is important, graduate student Malinda Handy, who is also a member of the OU Relay for Life Student Organization, said the most important thing is that it continues to raise hope. "I think it's important to continue raising money and hope," she said. "It's important to let people with cancer know that we care. We all want to find a cure."
Handy also said this year's Relay was bigger, but looked smaller because of the larger location. Last year's Relay was held at the Athens driving range so people were more compacted together.
Upon entering the fair grounds on Friday night, one could see a multitude of tents, Tiki torches and corn hole sets set up in the grass that the track surrounded. Loud music permeated the air, and hoodies and sweat pants seemed to be the designated attire for the night.
At 9 p.m., the most emotional part of the evening started: the luminaries ceremony. During this part of the evening, everyone gathered in front of the stage and various people recited poems, sang songs, or just told stories about his or her own past experiences with cancer and how it had affected his or her lives.
Senior Stefanie Klaus, a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Community Service Fraternity and a member of the women's singing group Title IX, which sang during the luminaries ceremony, was one of the speakers during the ceremony. During her speech, Klaus talked about her mother's battle with cancer and how it has affected her life since she was diagnosed.
"I guess I tell my story in hopes that it will maybe touch other people and inspire them," she said. "I hope it makes people who are going through similar situations feel that they are not alone, and people that are not going through similar situations will feel a little more connected if they know my story."
After the speeches were over, everyone in the audience was given a candle and once everyone had a lit candle, a silent candle-light lap was taken around the luminaries lit track in memory of those who have to battle, or have lost their battle with cancer.
Lauren Vollberg, a junior and the captain for the Newman Community's Relay for Life team, stated that the luminaries ceremony is her favorite part of the night because it is so emotional. She also said that her other favorite parts of the night were the Mr. Relay contest, in which boys dress up in drag to compete to be crowned Mr. Relay, and walking the track at sunrise. "It's the most beautiful sight you will ever see," she said about walking at sunrise. "I guess when I'm walking the track I sort of feel this sense of relief that I get to spend kind of one-on-one time with myself. I don't like to walk with someone because it gives me time to think by myself."
Vollberg has been participating in Relay for Life since she was a freshman and said she looks forward to the event all year. Her grandmother is a breast cancer survivor and her mother is an ovarian cancer survivor. This year she is not only participating for them but especially in remembrance of her grandfather who died from cancer.
"I Relay because I want to further the benefits towards cancer research and to help further the way of finding a cure so no one will have to ever face having cancer ever again," she said. "Mainly this year especially because my grandfather just passed away in December from lung cancer. I'm Relaying for him this year."
When asked about her favorite part of the night, Klaus said that she loves the fact that so many college students take time out of their busy schedules to remember those who have cancer or who have fought cancer. "I just think it's really really cool that so many college students who have so many other things going on can come together and recognize a really important cause," she said. "Especially people who don't know anyone with cancer. I really admire that they are coming to Relay just to be supportive and recognize an important cause. Just the ability of Relay to inspire people inspires me."
Handy stated that her favorite part of the evening is the hope that the night inspires. "Everyone coming together and showing that they care is great. We aren't going to let this [cancer] get us down," she said.
Vollberg stated that she hopes that the Relay for Life committee rose over $100,000 this year. She stated that last year they raised over $90,000 and hopes that this year, and in years to come they can continue to raise more money.
"I'm also hoping that everyone gets to have a good time tonight and that everyone takes something out of this experience," Vollberg said. "I hope they aren't here because they feel obligated to be out here, I hope they are here because they want to be here. I know I'm here because I want to be here.
"This is a night in which we can all get together and show support for one another," she said. "This [cancer] is something that is quite at large. This is something that affects everyone. Even if it doesn't affect you personally, you know someone who is being affected by it. We are all connected in some way to all of this, so that is why we are all here. We want to help these people get through this."
If you want to know more about Relay for Life you can visit www.relayforlife.org