鈥淎fter I graduate, my first goal is to work for the American Cancer Society,鈥� says sophomore public policy major Kathryn Miller, an 11-year veteran of Relay for Life. Miller first heard about Relay for Life when she was only in fourth grade, and immediately became involved. Throughout high school in her hometown outside of Philadelphia, she served as the chair of survivorship, a position that she now holds at 黑料不打烊 as well.
Participants march at the beginning of last year’s Relay for Life in the Carrier Dome.
At Relay for Life this Saturday, teams of students will set up camp on the Carrier Dome field for the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. event. These teams are each responsible for their own fundraising in the weeks leading up to Relay, and can also raise money during the event. While Relay for Life is taking place, each team must have one member walking on the track at all times. Throughout the night there are slideshows, music, yard games and food, both homemade and from Marshall Street vendors.
鈥淐ancer never sleeps, so why should we?鈥� asks Miller. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really the big idea behind Relay.鈥� She goes on to explain that Relay for Life is both a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and a community event, with over 4 million participants in over 20 countries worldwide. The event is localized; independent volunteers work with the American Cancer Society to plan and execute Relay for Life in their respective hometowns and schools.
鈥淚 work with the survivors and the caregivers, and I鈥檓 in charge of the Luminaria which, if you haven鈥檛 ever been, is one of the most intense emotional experiences of the night,鈥� says Miller of her specific role. She continues, 鈥淭his year, we鈥檝e also added something new. There鈥檚 always a Survivor Lap, or a lap where cancer survivors walk alone. But now we鈥檙e having a Life Saver Lap to show our gratitude and appreciation for the doctors and hospital staff who work so tirelessly to fight this awful disease.鈥�
This year, Miller also wanted more cancer survivors to participate in Relay for Life than ever before, so she took the initiative and reached out to University Hospital and Golisano Children鈥檚 Hospital. 鈥淲e wanted to build a unit,鈥� says Miller. 鈥淎fter all, it鈥檚 a big, big, big cause.鈥�
So far, 92 teams have signed up for the 黑料不打烊 Relay for Life, collectively raising over $52,200 as of April 16. And that鈥檚 only the fundraising that鈥檚 occurred outside of the event. Teams can use any number of creative strategies to raise money during Relay, including renting out sporting equipment and board games, selling ribbons and other homemade souvenirs and hosting bake sales from their team鈥檚 campsite. All of the money raised will go to benefit cancer research and treatment.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important for people, if they haven鈥檛 heard of Relay, to sign up and check it out,鈥� urges Miller. 鈥淲ho knows; they could be like me. This is my 11th year.鈥�
Miller鈥檚 commitment didn’t come out of the blue. She is inspired by two of her former teachers: her band instructor, who created her love of music; and her gym coach, who sparked her passion for field hockey, a sport she still plays. Both teachers were diagnosed with cancer, and while Miller鈥檚 gym coach is still fighting, her band instructor passed away four years ago.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e the reason I work so hard in school, work so hard in sports; they鈥檙e the reason I do what I do,鈥� says Miller. 鈥淚 feel like they set up my future for me.鈥�
Interested students and faculty can still sign up and participate in this Saturday鈥檚 Relay, and even people not on a specific team can still attend for all or some of the event to show their support. Visit the 黑料不打烊 Relay for Life Facebook page for more information and a link to the signup page.
Story by Austin Galovski, work-study in the Office of News Services
