As snow falls continuously on campus, sleeping outside on the Van Horn Field track is the last thing on students’ minds. However, Relay For Life 2014 is drawing nearer, and there are ways for students to get involved in the event in the months leading up to its official date, April 12-13.

Throughout the month of February, students can take on the February Frenzy challenge, sponsored by Colleges Against Cancer. Each week until Feb. 28, students can complete one task in order to be entered into a raffle to win 50 Chipotle burritos for their team. The tasks include creating a team, recruiting at least 10 members, raising $150 as a team and purchasing a luminaria to honor someone who has been affected by cancer.

These events all lead up to Relay’s Power of Purple event on Feb. 28 which will take place in Nord 310. This event will feature a mini-Relay For Life with food and entertainment. In past years, Power of Purple has consisted of a few tables with food and very little student interaction. This year, undergraduate student co-chairs Shruthi Srinivas and Alissa Prior aim to utilize this event in a different way. “The goal is not only a huge recruitment push, but to remind students that Relay For Life is right around the corner,” said Prior.

Later on that evening a student-faculty basketball game will take place, which is a Relay For Life tradition each year. In addition to the basketball game, a number of fundraising opportunities will be available, such as raffles and knockout challenges. Afterwards, students can enjoy a late night at The Jolly Scholar, where 5-10 percent of the night’s proceeds will benefit Relay For Life.

“Our end goal is to shatter our fundraising record,” said Srinivas, “and these events will increase publicity.”