Relay for Life captains meeting Tuesday

5 p.m., March 16, 2006--One of the annual rites of spring at UD is the American Cancer Society's signature event, Relay for Life, an all-night event to raise awareness and funds for cancer research and education, bringing together students, faculty and staff, as well as persons from the community. This year's Relay for Life will be held from 6 p.m., Saturday, May 6, until 9 a.m., Sunday, May 7, in the Delaware Field House.

Last year, the event raised more than $185,000, and this year, the goal is $300,000. “It's an ambitious goal but it can be done if everybody pitches in,” senior Megan Graham said, who cochairs the event with junior Angela Valez.

A team captains meeting is being held at 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, in 115 Purnell Hall, and Graham and Valez encourage any interested persons to attend. More than 70 teams have signed up, but more are needed.

The Relay for Life traditionally opens with a lap led by cancer survivors, and from then on the teams are represented by at least one member walking the track for the rest of the night. At 9 p.m., a Ceremony of Hope is held when the lights are dimmed and candle-lit luminaries, remembering and commemorating those with cancer, are placed around the track while participants join hands to form a huge circle and observe a moment of silence before the teams resume walking the track.

While the purpose is serious, Relay for Life is upbeat and fun with lots of entertainment, music, socializing and snacking. “We have lots of food,” Graham said. “Last year, 500 pizzas were consumed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.--unbelievable! We have 600 bananas lined up for this year, and breakfast is always bagels and coffee.”

Some of the teams are quite creative when it comes to names, she said, such as the CanCer-Vive, Cancer Kickin' Chickens, Relay2Acure, and Tarzan Good, Cancer Bad.

Graham and Valez have been working on the project for a year, but the good news is that since they are roommates, they can confer instantly and easily.

“We were team captains the first year and worked on the committee after that and now are overseeing the whole event,” Valez said.

“Cancer runs in my family, and I lost an uncle shortly after I came to UD, so this is a project that has special meaning for me,” Valez said. Graham too has had persons close to her who suffered from cancer.

Relay for Life is a lot of work but worth the effort, Valez and Graham agreed.

But, it's also a big party with bands, a capella groups, games, contests, deejays until the wee hours of the morning when things slow down and participants get in a few zees before morning coffee and bagels are served.

To make a donation go to [www.acsevents.org/ud] or send a check made out to the American Cancer Society to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life-University of Delaware, Suite 205, 92 Read's Way, New Castle, DE 19720.

Article by Sue Moncure

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