Relay breaks records (Photo by Lindsey Perkins, The Daily Campus)

More than 500 students, faculty and staff gathered on the Boulevard Friday night to participate in SMU’s third annual Relay For Life fundraiser and to also honor and remember those suffering from cancer.

The number of registered teams and participants broke the SMU Relay for Life records with 60 teams and 579 participants.

“Relay For Life at SMU is successful due to the hard work of the board who were out recruiting and encouraging teams all year long.  The students on this campus responded to that energy and we had record participation,” said SMU Relay For Life Chair Alexis Miller.

Each team was required to raise $800 or $100 per teammate, whichever was greater.

This year teams exceeded these requirements by raising $113,980.55 by the beginning of the event. However, donations continue to be counted.

Organizers expect to raise an additional 10 to 15 percent based on donation patterns from previous years.

All proceeds from the event go directly to the American Cancer Society.

The organization uses donations to fund cancer research, cancer-related education, and patient and community services. Relay For Life became a nationally recognized event over the past decades as more of the population was touched by cancer. This is one reason the program has been so successful at SMU.

“Because so many members of the SMU community have been affected by cancer, our participation is amazing,” said Miller. “People are drawn to a Relay For Life event because of the magnitude of the disease.”

Miller said about 33 percent of females and 50 percent of males will get cancer at some point in their lives, meaning that while not everyone will directly suffer from the symptoms of the disease, most people will be affected in one way or another by someone they know or care about who does.

Part of the night, called the Luminary Ceremony, was dedicated to those who have or had the disease.

Luminaries could be purchased online and featured the name of the person being honored, with proceeds also benefiting the American Cancer Society.

The lighted tributes encircled the Boulevard, marking the way for participants.

During the ceremony the names on the luminaries were read one by one, with the ceremony concluding all participants taking one lap together. Many had faces for the names they passed.

“My grandma died of cancer,” explained Lauren Welte, a SMU sophomore and Relay For Life participant. “[Relay For Life] is an amazing cause and presented very well at SMU so that it is also a lot of fun to do.” Lauren was a member of a relay team dubbed “Lynette’s Pink SPARClers.”

Welte was not alone in her reasons to participate. David Dines, a first year at SMU, also participated in Relay For Life because of how cancer has touched his family.

“My main reason for doing it [is that] my aunt died of breast cancer in 2000 and my family has always done Race for the Cure and other cancer benefits,” said Dines. “I had a great time doing Relay For Life; it was a lot of fun.”

The enthusiasm of participants was one of Miller’s favorite parts of organizing Relay For Life at SMU.

“This is my third year on the board for this event and my favorite part has been watching the event grow and develop as teams begin to understand what the night will be like and what to expect.”

Students were not the only ones who showed their support. Staff members like Virginia-Snider Hall Director Leasa Kowalski were also present for the event.

Kowalski has seen cancer touch the SMU community in a personal way, as one of the survivors present Friday was a former Virginia-Snider resident.

“I attend -to show my support of for all of the many residents I know on campus who were participating in some way, shape or form,” explained Kowalski.

Her friend’s mother was also on the Boulevard Friday night representing hope as a cancer survivor.

“I think it’s important that we pull together as a community to look at how we impact the world around us,” said Kowalski. “Who we are as active citizens of SMU, Dallas and the world is such an important part of being an SMU student or staff member.”

Next year’s Relay For Life will be held on April 13 and 14, 2007. For updates and contact information or to donate, visit smurelay.com.