Relay For Life celebrates sixth year at OU
By Liz Bracher, Staff Writer
May 16, 2008 | 7:07 p.m.
Many students at Ohio University see spring quarter as a time to celebrate the warm weather and the imminent end of the school year. It is also a time for a slightly different celebration: Relay For Life.
The event, started in Tacoma, Wash., by the American Cancer Society’s Dr. Gordon Klatt, aims to celebrate those who have survived cancer as well as remember those who have lost their lives to the disease.
This year marks OU’s sixth year holding Relay For Life. Planning for this year’s event has been going on since the beginning of fall quarter. “So far online we have raised over $42,000,” said Claire Russell, co-president of Relay For Life of Ohio University. “We had a Bank Night where people could turn in offline money, and people can also turn in money at Relay. We won’t know the total until Saturday morning. Last year we raised over $83,000.”
Money raised for Relay goes “directly to the American Cancer Society and helps fund research, education, patient services and advocacy,” Russell said.
Members of various campus organizations are planning on participating in Relay. Service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega has raised over $8,500, currently putting them in first place.
“Relay For Life does so many wonderful things for cancer research,” APhiO member freshman Blair Scanlon said. “[We] are always excited to be a part of it, and it is one of the most important events we participate in. We hope that the money we raised makes some impact, however large or small.”
Russell expects about 1,200 people to show up to Relay, and she encourages anyone to come. “People should participate in Relay because, unfortunately, cancer is a disease that has or will affect everyone,” Russell said. “One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer. If you are not that one person, you will most likely know someone who is.”
Relay For Life starts at 4 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2008 at the Athens County Fairgrounds and goes until 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17. For more information, visit the event's webpage."
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