Florida A&M University’s Student Government Association will sponsor its fourth annual Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society at the Robert “Pete” Griffin Track on FAMU’s campus.
Relay for Life is an 18-hour event that is scheduled to begin Friday at 3 p.m., and end Saturday at 9 a.m, where a team must walk continuously around the track from start to finish. Teams are required to have at least one team member walking the track at all times.
According to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life is a fundraiser for cancer research, and a tribute to cancer survivors, patients and the lives lost to the disease.
“It’s an all night event because cancer never sleeps, so neither do you,” said Corrine Rubin, Tallahassee’s American Cancer Society community representative. “What’s good about the Relay for Life is that it brings all of our organizations together for one common goal,” said Graduate Sen. Jerryd Jackson.
The American Cancer Society was established in 1913 and has been holding the Relay for Life in communities across the United States since 1985. The organization contributes resources to improve cancer research for prevention, detection and treatments.
“The Relay for Life is an amazing experience,” said Molly Wahl, a Relay for Life staff member. “There are thousands of people who come out to the event to participate or show their support.”
The ACS provides inspiration through its many programs and services, which are made possible through donations from local communities.
During FAMU’s Relay for Life, cancer survivors will be honored during the survivors’ lap.
Anyone who is a cancer survivor or patient can participate in the opening ceremony and walk alongside fellow survivors in a victory lap.
Those who died due to cancer can be remembered during the “Luminary Ceremony.” Luminaries, paper bags containing sand and a lit candle with a name written on the outside, represent cancer survivors and those who have been lost to the disease.
Luminaries will be sold for $5.
The candles will be lit and placed around the track during the relay event.
To entertain participants as they walk throughout the night, there will be live performances by dance troupes and bands, a disc jockey will play music between performances and there will be games and activities for children as well as adults.
Participating relay teams are competing to see which team can raise the most money prior to and during the event.
Team’s are charged $100 entry fee and are asked to raise an additional $100 for each team member.
At the end of the event, each relay team’s donations will be tallied and a winner will be announced.
At FAMU’s Relay last year, approximately $30,000 was raised.
“Our goals for this year’s Relay for Life is to get 40. Forty and 40, which means 40 relay teams, 40 cancer survivors and raise $40,000,” said Rubin.
Sign-up forms for the Relay for Life and donations information can be found on the ACS’s Web site.
It is also not too late to join an existing team. It is free for individuals who want to participate in the relay.
All activities are free to the general public.
Coordinators said donations will be accepted throughout the event.
“If someone cannot donate money but would like to volunteer their time, we are always accepting volunteers,” Rubin said.
For more information about “Relay for Life” and how to register or volunteer contact Rubin at (850) 297-0588 or corinne.rubin@cancer.org.
People can also visit http://acsevents.org/relay/fl/famu.
For the most updated cancer information and to find out about cancer resources in your community, call the ACS’s 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit http://cancer.org.
Contact Stefan Weekes at famuannews@hotmail.com