Relay for Life leaders hope for more campus awareness

University of Richmond's fourth-annual Relay for Life will be held on campus for the second year in a row, this time with a goal to surpass last year's achievements -- both financially and in terms of awareness.

"Our goal is to make the campus community more aware of what we can do to make an impact - through advocacy, through education about cancer prevention and early detection and through raising money to fund life-saving research," said senior Emily Sherman, co-chairwoman of Relay for Life.

Last year the event raised around $21,000, which was slightly below the set fundraising goal. This year, the goal is $25,000, as well as getting more people from the campus and community out to the event, Sherman said. Although the organizers did not increase the financial intake last year, holding the event on campus for the first time did increase visibility and participation, she said.

The event is part of a nationwide effort created by the American Cancer Society to raise money for cancer research and education.

Teams of participants will walk around Westhampton Lake from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 17 to show their support for those afflicted by cancer and raise money for cancer research.

The event will begin with a Survivor Lap in which all of the attending cancer survivors take a victory lap around the track. A candlelight ceremony is held during the evening to honor cancer survivors and remember cancer victims who have passed away.

Sophomore Alex Purdy, who was a team captain for the event last year, said that attendance last year had been strong at first, but dropped throughout the day.

This year, event planners hope to retain participants with activities and new prizes.

Relay for Life will feature traditional activities such as games, live entertainment, fitness classes, student performing groups, themed laps, contests and several prizes. A new raffle this year - a chance to win a free Beach Week house in Myrtle Beach - is expected to increase participation. The raffle will be based on the amount of money teams raise, and the winner will be chosen at the end of the Relay for Life Purple Week, a week-long event held during the spring.

Proceeds from the event go to the American Cancer Society, the leading non-profit contributor of funds to scientists studying all types of cancer. During the past decade, the funding raised through programs such as Relay for Life has allowed scientists to accomplish dozens of significant breakthroughs in the cancer treatment.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the mortality rate for people afflicted with cancer began to drop for the first time in 2003, and has continued to do so since.

Purdy said she participated in Relay for Life because of the importance of the cause.

"I did it because a few members of my family have been diagnosed with cancer, not seriously, and all were treatable," she said.

She said she attributed her family members' successes to the people who had given their time and money to these sorts of campaigns.

"It's because of the modern research today - and that was made available due to fundraisers and organizations like Relay," Purdy said.

Event co-chairwoman Jordan Fisher said that Relay for Life had come far during the four years the university had participated in it.

She said of her and Sherman: "We have both been involved with Relay for Life since our freshman year and we have witnessed firsthand the progress UR has made and how fun this event can be. We all relay for our own personal reasons and it's nice to know that we all are making an impact."

Contact staff writer Maggie Finucane at margaret.finucane@richmond.edu