SMU students took a stand against cancer as they participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life despite the rainy weather.
SMU Relay For Life raised over $100,000 for the American Cancer Society on Friday.
Relay For Life is a national event held in locations throughout America. It has been going on for more than 25 years, raising millions to help the American Cancer Society in its pursuit of a cure for cancer, as well as providing support to current cancer patients and their families.
During Relay For Life, teams send at least one member to walk laps at all times for 12 hours in order to simulate the cancer patient’s relentless battle against cancer.
“I was really impressed by the turn out of SMU students for Relay, and just how much the students care,” freshman participant Kari Rood said.
Relay For Life was planned and organized by the Relay Planning Committee, which is made up of SMU students. Rain caused the event to be moved from the usual Boulevard to Moody Coliseum.
Relay’s opening ceremonies included speeches and recognition of the survivors present. After the opening speeches, survivors took a lap by themselves, with everyone else cheering for them.
Survivors and their caregivers made the second lap, once again with the other participants cheering. Finally, the third lap consisted of everyone doing a lap together.
Each Relay team had on-site fundraisers. Teams sold cookies and cupcakes, along with other creative and fun fundraising activities as well.
After a few hours of participating in Relay, the Mr. Relay contest was held. In this contest, teams were allowed to send one guy as a contestant in a mock beauty pageant.
This year’s Mr. Relay was Daniel Shnider, a freshman member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon team.
There was also live music performed by the band Nelo, and later the Clay Wilson band. The music kept going well into the night, as did the Relay-ers. The participants continued walking until closing ceremonies at 2 a.m.
During the closing ceremony, participants were reminded that even though Relay is a one-day event, the battle against cancer is not.
