“Less Cancer, More Birthdays,” is the theme for this year’s Relay for Life which is an overnight fundraiser in the Morrow Field House on April 26 to 27.
Relay for Life is a fundraising event that is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and it honors the survivors, remembers those who lost their lives, and helps raise money for those still fighting, according to the Relay for Life website.
At Slippery Rock University, faculty, organizations, students, and the community will all work together to reach their goal of $75,000 that will all go to the American Cancer Society. Since this is one of the biggest fundraisers on campus this brings up the question, why do you relay?
Lyndsie Malobabich, the American Cancer Society’s Income Development Representative, said,
“Everyone should relay because of a reason that means something to them.”
The American Cancer Society is the largest research funder, and the money raised also goes to programs and services across Butler County for those who are fighting cancer, Malobabich said.
Some of those programs include, “Road to Recovery,” a transportation service to get patients to their treatments, and “Look Good, Feel Better,” a program that reteaches female cancer patients to put on make-up and do their hair, Malobabich said.
Malobabich contributes to Slippery Rock University’s Relay for Life event by providing all the resources and information to the executive board, but all the planning, and fundraising is done by Slippery Rock students, she said.
One member of the executive board is senior public relations major, Kayla McGrath, 22, who is the Relay for Life chair.
“Before I was on the executive board, I was the committee chair of three other committees so I have been in their shoes, and I have a broad understanding of the whole event.”
McGrath said that she relays because she has family members who had or are still fighting cancer. She also relays for people who have been diagnosed with cancer, and do not necessarily have someone to relay for them, she said.
Another member of the executive board, and senior early childhood and special education major Taylor Hubert, 22, said,
“I relay because my mom passed away from cancer.”
Hubert, the treasurer of the Executive Board, explained that Relay for Life is a fun way to raise money for a good cause, and everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer.
Sophomore athletic training major Ashley Carroll, 20, explained, “I relay mainly for my nana who passed away years ago, but recently I also relay for two of my aunts, and my grandfather.”
While individual students can attend the event, they can also choose to start or join a team. At the Slippery Rock Relay for Life the Greeks form many of those teams.
“I started participating in Relay for Life seven years ago, but it was not until the third year that I understood the effect cancer had on people,” senior Political Science major and Kappa Delta Rho fraternity brother Joe Pacifco, 21, said.
Pacifico explained that his eighth grade English teacher had cancer and in the middle of the school year had to leave for treatment, and never returned to school.
“I want my brothers to see that cancer affects everyone, and I hope having them go will help them find their personal cause,” Pacifico said about his fraternity’s involvement with Relay for Life.
Relay for Life is a 12-hour celebration for participants to raise money for a good cause, because “Cancer Never Sleeps, so Neither Will We.”
