The Relay for Life of SLU, an event that supports, the American Cancer Society will take place this this weekend, April 2, at 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. at the Robert R. Hermann stadium. About 110 teams will participate in the 12-hour event, to honor cancer survivors and cancer victims.
Nearly 1,200 people are expected to attend.
"As of right now, 110 teams are signed up with eight to 15 people on each team. So we are expecting around 1200 people to be attending Relay," said Leah Schneider, committee member.
Last year, Relay for Life of SLU raised $85,751. This year the committee's goal is in the ballpark of $125,000.
Total donations so far total over $43,664, according to the SLU Relay Web site.
The Relay for Life committee has been working tirelessly since September to bring this event to campus for the second time.
Opening and closing ceremonies will kick off and conclude the event, including speakers Phil Lyons, the assistant vice president of student development, Mark Chmiel, Ph.D., a cancer survivor and professor in the theology department, and other cancer survivors. At 10 p.m., there will be a luminaria ceremony, where each participant takes an unlit candle and places it in one of the luminaries set up around the perimeter of the track.
"This is my favorite part because it is so touching, and everyone who has or had cancer is being honored and prayed for at this time," said Schneider.
The night's festivities will include a daylight-saving time dance, a Mr. Relay contest (best looking drag queen wins), a frozen T-shirt contest, and various musical performances by Phases of Motion, Beyond All Reason and Bare Naked Statues, as well as performances by seven student bands.
Relay for Life was started by Gordy Klatt, Ph.D., in May of 1985 when Klatt walked and ran on a track for 24 hours in Tacoma, Washington, as a personal "statement in the fight against cancer" according to the American Cancer Society Web site (www.cancer.org). Klatt clocked 83 miles and raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society.
"The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and patient services," reads the SLU Relay Web site.
Since 1985, the popularity of Relay for Life has grown exponentially, extending into 4,200 communities in the United States, and has even gone international. An estimated three million people will participate in Relay events worldwide this year.
The event is held overnight to symbolize the fight a cancer patient faces after diagnosis: the process of treatment, remediation and recovery.
"I'm looking forward to spending time with everyone and working for a good cause," said team captain Verity Kugelmann.
