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UD’s Relay For Life exceeds $134,000

4:38 p.m., April 19, 2004--More than 1,100 participants took part in UD’s third annual Relay For Life April 17-18 in the Delaware Field House. UD students, faculty, staff and community members on 100 teams raised $134,439.81 for the American Cancer Society (ACS), well exceeding the $100,000 goal.

The overnight event celebrated cancer survivors and raised awareness and funds for cancer research and education. In only its third year at UD, Relay For Life more than tripled the funds raised during the original event.

“The event has grown tremendously over the past three years,” Meghan Stitely, ACS community specialist, said. “It’s a credit to the commitment of the UD community.” Stitely also was quick to credit the student-run Relay For Life committee. “They’re an amazing group. Their enthusiasm and ingenuity made a big difference,” she said.

Matthew Jenkins, AS '04, participated in UD’s Relay For Life 2004 as a cancer survivor. “Relay For Life is important because cancer touches everybody in some way, and you can get it at any point in your life,” he said. “I also wanted to remind people that what they are doing actually helps fight cancer. It's good for people to be reminded why they relay.” Jenkins survived Burkett's Lymphoma, a non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Relay For Life 2004 featured performances by UD student a capella groups the D-Sharps and the Deltones, as well a performance by the Gospel Choir. Other activities included a fortune-teller, an early morning yoga session and flashlight tag. An interfaith prayer vigil was held at sunrise. The event had several theme laps throughout the night, including the cartwheel lap, the team theme lap and the UD spirit lap.

“The energy in the field house was breathtaking,” Emily Barnak, AS ’04, Relay For Life co-chair, said. “Looking out over the sea of tents and students, I realized how proud I was to be a UD student. It was amazing to see so many people join together to honor those who have lost the battle to cancer and those who are still fighting it.”

The Deltones, a student a capella group, helps entertain Relay for Life participants.
Barnak said that during the night, participants ate 280 pizzas, 35 dozen bagels and doughnuts and drank 1,200 bottles of water.

Relay For Life 2004 also featured special appearances by a group of local VIP, including YoUDee, who came to cheer on cancer survivors as they kicked-off the event during the opening lap. Ferrous, the Aberdeen Iron Bird’s mascot, also was on hand to entertain participants. Newark Mayor-elect Vance Funk also stopped by to show his support.

Currently, UD’s Relay For Life 2004 is the largest to date in the state of Delaware.

Article by Kevin Tressler, AS ‘04
Photos by Sue Fan

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