The Observer, April 25, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 26
Relay for Life raises more than double its goal
click to enlarge
Case Western Reserve's first -first ever Relay for Life surpassed almost everyone's expectations.
Relay for Life is an annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society in which participants form teams to raise money, then come to the event and walk the track in shifts for the duration of the 18-hour event. According to the event chair, Elizabeth Kiracofe, this continued involvement in the fundraising process is what sets Relay apart from other fundraisers: "People feel like they're doing something. They're not just writing a check and putting it in an envelope."
A lot of teams had fundraisers in their tents at the event too, ranging from back massages from 1-2-1 Fitness, to Fish Pong, sponsored by Phi Delta Epsilon. Beside the individual team's fundraisers, the planning team organized events throughout the night for free. If the bead rewarded at the end of each lap to put on a purple pipe cleaner as a lap counter wasn't motivation enough, there were live bands, IHOP pancakes, and even yoga and aerobics classes, all free of charge. Entertainment was provided by different Case performance groups, and then if 18 hours was too long to be away from video games, there were Halo and Rock Band tournaments, complete with prizes.
When organizing Relay, Kiracofe said the initial goal was to get 30 teams to raise $30,000. During opening ceremonies Friday night, it was announced that the 51 teams, consisting of more than 700 participants, had already raised $40,000, and the Relay hadn't even begun. The Zeta Psi and Phi Mu team raised the most money, contributing $4015, and the final count for the entire Relay was over $60,000, more than double the original goal.
One of the most striking parts of the event was the very beginning of the relay, when all of the survivors, distinguished by their purple shirts, joined to complete the first lap around the track. These weren't some strangers the American Cancer Society had brought in for the event, but fellow students.
Freshman Emily Friedlander agreed that this is what really brings the issue home, because "when you see people in your school community that you can relate to, it makes it real."
Friedlander, a survivor herself, said that getting involved in Case's first ever Relay was a no-brainer. She explained why it is often so difficult to speak about her experience with cancer. "It's not that I don't want to share about it," Friedlander said, but "I don't want it to define me."
Another powerful part of Relay was the luminary ceremony, when decorated paper bags were placed around the track in memory or in honor of loved ones with cancer. During the ceremony, there were luminaries in the stands spelling out the word "hope," and after all the candles had been lit and names had been read, the word was changed to "cure."
Serving as honorary chair for the event was Case president Barbara Snyder, whose invaluable support of the event brought together students and staff alike. Another person whose involvement was crucial in the success of Case's first Relay was Dr. Bob Brodell, one of only five members of the national Relay For Life Hall of Fame. Brodell is also one of the founding members of the Trumbull County Relay For Life, the largest in Ohio, which raises close to $1 million every year. Both Brodell and Snyder helped kick off the event by speaking at the opening ceremonies, and then continued to show their support by walking the track with the other participants.
Case's first Relay for Life was a huge success, not just because of the amount of money raised, but because of all the people it touched. The luminary ceremony, survivor lap, and all the fundraisers, free entertainment, and activities came together to form a remarkable event that the organizers, participants, and the Case community as a whole can be extremely proud of.
Planning for Case Western Reserve University's Relay for Life 2009 is already underway. If you're interested in becoming a part of the planning team, contact Alex Hamberger at relay@case.edu.
