Relay for Life team spreads awareness

The FAMU Relay for Life organizers. Photo courtesy Jeffrey Dean

October is the month selected to honor those who battled, conquered or lost their lives to breast cancer. Relay For Life is a nonprofit organization that aims to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Worldwide, people host relay for life events on behalf of the American Cancer Society. 

“Our relay for life supports anyone who has been affected by cancer. That includes caregivers, survivors, people currently battling the disease, and other support systems. It is all about doing what we can to find help in finding a cure,” said Kennedy Groce, representative of FAMU’s Relay For Life.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, campus activity has decreased so the nonprofit organization had to take a different approach when it comes to advertising and promoting events.

“In order to promote breast cancer awareness and increase funding for cancer research through the American Cancer Society, my committee and I have decided that in order to promote campus engagement for this year’s relay for life our social media presence had to be one of our top priorities,” said Kyra Freeney, FAMU Relay For Life chairwoman.

Ever since this realization, the organization has made attempted to fulfill its goal to not let the coronavirus pandemic hinder it. To kick-off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, they have planned a 10-day photo challenge to trend on Instagram and reach a large number of students while spreading awareness.

FAMU’s Relay For Life plans to feature those who survived breast cancer and celebrate the lives of those who died from the disease on the FAMU Relay For Life Instagram page. Students will have the opportunity to send in their loved ones who suffered from cancer.

About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to Breastcancer.org.

That is roughly 12 percent of the women in the United States. It is important to be knowledgeable of early signs so it can be monitored before any severe effects.

“It is essential to know the early signs of cancer and your likelihood of getting cancer, for example getting tested for the BRCA gene,” Freeney said.

FAMU’s Relay For Life is putting  substantial efforts into promoting and spreading awareness of the lethal disease. This year’s FAMU Relay For Life campaign has set a goal of $30,000 for cancer research.