Relay for Life at SRU

Friday, March 29, 2019 from 4:00pm-12:00am students, friends, faculty, staff, community members, and cancer survivors gathered in the Abersold Recreation Center on Slippery Rock University's campus for the annual Relay for Life Event. Relay for Life is a cancer fundraising event that is held in communities across the globe to fight back against cancer! There are seven steps to the typical Relay For Life Process. The first step is pre-event fundraising to raise awareness well before the Relay For Life Event. The second step is finding individuals to join your team. The third step is the opening ceremony held at the Relay For Life Event to kick off the event by welcoming all relay participants. The fourth step is survivor and caregiver laps at the event which are designed for survivors to take a celebratory lap at the event while the crowd cheers them on. The fifth step is to celebrate which involves all participants playing games, dancing, and walking. The sixth step is lighting the luminaria to remember those who have lost the battle, celebrate those who have beat the battle, and spread the light in the darkness that cancer may bring. The seventh and final step in the typical Relay For Life Process is the closing ceremony to recognize all event volunteers, the community’s hard work, and the continuous fight to end cancer.

Participants had the opportunity to share why they Relay to be put on display for all to see and read throughout the evening. The theme for this year's Relay at SRU was Hawaiian which was clearly displayed throughout the event but especially with the #WhyIRelay wall.

Students, friends, faculty, staff, and community members wrote down why they Relay For Life. All participants posted their responses on the wall for all to see as the event progressed throughout the evening.

Students from the American Sign Language Club participated in Relay for Life this year. They also performed a musical number by signing the lyrics to a song from the Disney movie Moana.

The Relay for Life this year consists of events including a lip sync battle, Mr. Relay where a guy dresses up in a bikini and walks around to raise money for the American Cancer Society, 50/50 raffle, dodgeball tournament, and various performances by clubs and organizations located on Slippery Rock University's Campus.

https://youtu.be/Kx4s3HPW86U

Here is an insider perspective on how the Relay for Event life is planned here on Slippery Rock's Campus each year from the Donations and Sponsorships Chair, Sidney Puhatch.

https://youtu.be/XqMIvFKElVk

Here is the former President of the Relay for Life Club on Slippery Rock's campus, Rebecca Godwin. She discusses the events fundraising goal from last year and the target goal for this years event.

Signs educate the way as participants walk the track to Relay for Life.

Throughout the walking path, The American Cancer Society placed signs to educate those on cancer and its effects. Each Relay Team was responsible for having one member of their team walking the track at all times. There were also designated times where all participants would take a lap to honor those who's lives have been touched by cancer. The event also had a very special lap where all of the survivors were able to share their stories and take a victory lap for beating their battle with cancer.

There is plenty more to come from this event as participants walk, dance, and play games to raise money for the American Cancer Society until midnight.