While the track at Robert R. Hermann Stadium may be frozen,
Saint Louis University’s newest student group plans to heat things
up come March.

Relay For Life hopes to bring the SLU community together in the
fight against cancer.

“Relay For Life is an event to raise awareness and to raise
money for cancer research,” said Katie Nichols, a senior in Arts
and Sciences who is a co-chair of the event.

The12-hour event begins on Saturday, March 27 at 6 p.m. and ends
with the closing ceremony on Sunday, March 28 at 6 a.m. During
these 12 hours, teams of SLU students, faculty and staff will walk
around the track that surrounds the soccer field.

“The entire SLU community is invited to participate, which is a
chance to remember those lost to cancer and celebrate the lives of
survivors,” Nichols said.

There will also be forms of entertainment throughout the night.
KSLU and various bands such as the Bare Naked Statues will provide
music throughout the night, while participants enjoy activities,
contests and movies.

At 10 on the night of the event, a special ceremony will be held
in honor of those personally affected by cancer. Names of
individuals who have survived, or lost, their battle with cancer
will be read off and also written on luminarias that will be lit up
around the track. Luminarias may be purchased in honor of these
individuals for $5 each. They will be sold at future 10 p.m. Masses
and on the night of the event.

As of now, there are 12 teams signed up, “but we are aiming for
75,” said Nichols. Relay For Life encourages all residence hall
floors, fraternities and sororities, student groups and staff
members to form groups. Individuals can also be placed on
teams.

Each team member needs to raise a minimum of $100 for the event.
The goal Relay For Life has set to be raised for the entire event
is $25,000.

Relay For Life is run by the American Cancer Society, which
decided to put together an exclusively SLU event after watching the
success of the Relay For Life at Washington University.

SLU has a committee of 30 people running this event. It consists
of graduate students and undergraduate students, with David Clark
of Student Life serving as the group’s advisor. They have been
planning this event since September.

For more information on forming a team, e-mail [email protected] or
visit www.acsevents.org/relay/mo/slu.