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Printer-Friendly ModeRelay for Life raises $27,000 for research
April 23, 2007 —
At this weekend's Relay for Life, hundreds of people ascended on SVSU's campus and raised $27,000 toward cancer research.
For more than 20 years, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life has raised money to work toward finding a cure for cancer. This year marks SVSU's fourth year of participation.
Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event. The event is a celebration of life and a way to pay tribute to those who lost their battle with cancer. There are a large number of celebrations each year, with 4,580 events held in 2006.
ACS Communications Specialist Stacy King put the numbers into perspective.
"There is one event for every 65,000 Americans," King said. "That's more than there are Wal-Marts."
Fourteen of these events are held throughout 11 counties served in mid-Michigan.
Unique only to the states of Michigan and Indiana, none of the money goes to the American Cancer Society. Instead, all proceeds are put toward efforts in finding a cure through research, education, advocacy, and patient services. The 2007 goal for money raised from the event was $35,000.
The planning prior to Relay for Life takes patience, a trait Tacarra Ford has learned much about. After experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms, Ford was diagnosed with Stage 3 Cancer and would need to quit her two jobs as well as take a few semesters off of school.
However, this did not cause Ford to give up. She chose to learn the value of teamwork, using her Christian faith to build strong relationships with her friends and family.
Teamwork is a big part of Relay for Life as well. Each year 30 to 40 SVSU relay teams are formed. Participants are usually based on student organizations, or offices on campus. However, some teams are made up of students with no formal affiliation. Program Board and Student Association were both involved in this year's event.
SA President Andy Suszek finds SVSU students more than willing to get involved in the cause. The commitment is obvious to those attending the event, with more than 1,000 people attending each year at SVSU.
"We simply encourage organizations to participate," Suszek said. "They choose to do so out of their own personal commitment to service."
The word cancer is all too familiar to most Americans, as the dreaded disease affects many lives each year.
One such life is Tacarra Ford, an English education major at SVSU. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph nodes, when she was a freshman. Now 24, Ford believes in raising awareness to find a cure.
"I'm happy that the school takes time out to honor and remember us survivors," Ford said. "Without events like this, survivors like me may not be alive."
Many of the event's participants also had a sentimental association with the cause. Trisha Wilke, team captain for the University Village team wanted to participate because of personal experiences she had with the disease.
"I knew two ten year old girls who died of cancer way too young," she said. "I've known people who died of cancer and I wanted to do this for them."
Nursing junior Angela Ellis agreed with Wilke. "Cancer has affected my family in many ways, and this is a way to show my support and honor their memory."
While personal experiences drew students to the event, many activities kept them involved throughout the night. The events included a euchre tournament, a dance competition, the Mr. Relay Contest, a poker tournament, and a basketball playoff. Prizes were given away to encourage student involvement.
Some groups were student organizations on campus, but some were put together by individual students. The team Cardinal Wings was managed by team leader Ashley Swartz. This was her first year participating in Relay and organizing a team on her own. She went to many local businesses and asked for donations and sponsors for her team.
"I wanted to participate in Relay for Life because I have had some aunts and uncles who were recently diagnosed with cancer and I wanted to help support them," she said. Elementary education freshman Jenny Frank led the Southeast Community team at the event. This was her second time participating in Relay for Life. She also organized a team her senior year of high school.
"It's a good cause while allowing people to have fun along the way," she said. "It's a good atmosphere for college students." She also was a participant in the euchre tournament with partner history education sophomore Drew Hall.
"It was really fun and laid back and I was surprised at the number of people that played. It would have been sweet to win, but I had fun," Hall said. Ellis volunteered alongside fellow nursing student Julie Kurzer. The two have participated in the event for the past three years.
"Being in the health care field, we understand it is important to raise funds for cancer research," Kurzer said. "It's not only an event that raises money; it raises awareness by providing information to those who participate."
Jessica Battles contributed to this story