Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual charity walk to support those with cancer and members of their families. According to their website, Relay For Life “brings together passionate supporters who embody the American Cancer Society vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.”
ACS has partnered with the university in running ACS on Campus for years. The university participated in the 2024 Relay For Life on April 6. Here are some highlights.
1. Haylee Morgan (left), president of ACS, and Larissa Smith, vice president and treasurer, got involved in ACS because of the help it extends toward those in need. “I think it’s a really great way to make an impact about something that could be related to campus but also off campus,” Morgan said, “and I just really like being on a team and planning things, so that’s also just fun to do, too.”
2. To kick off Relay For Life, Morgan and Smith led all participants in a lap around the track.
3. The event consisted of several minute-to-win-it activities, like hula hooping contests. Other competitions included shooting a volleyball through a hula hoop, egg-on-a-spoon races and basketball free throws. “[The minute-to-win-it games were] a last minute ‘Thursday or Friday before’ kind of decision,” Morgan said. “We wanted to do something fun and get people involved.”
4. Participants could also participate in other games and activities throughout the event, such as skee ball (left), giant Connect Four and giant cup pong, as well as the opportunity to jump on a bouncy house.
5. One of the most popular attractions was the caricature artist, Steve Campbell. There was a constant line of students waiting to get their picture drawn. “A lot of people last year really liked the caricature artist, so we decided to keep that,” Smith said.
6. Participants could enter several different raffles. There was a variety of baskets: a candy basket, a coffee basket, a college life basket and a Minecraft basket.
7. The university’s dance team performed their last performance for the year to “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga.
8. Towards the end of the event, participants had the opportunity to make luminaries for the Luminaria Ceremony, honoring and remembering loved ones who lost their lives to cancer.
9. Relay For Life had a great turn out. According to Smith, there were nine teams signed up. Featured here is the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma. Back row from left: Leah LaMont, Raymie Shields. Front row from left: Braylee Harris, Leah Michaels, Maggie McGlone, Camila Vasquez, Alexia Gomez.
