By Alli Dayton, News Editor
On Saturday, April 8, Colleges Against Cancer hosted their annual Relay for Life event from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. in the Hauser Field House in the Jaeger Center. The organization planned the event over the past year to raise money for cancer research.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the planning for Relay for Life occurred virtually. “We couldn’t necessarily work together in-person to plan things, so it was mostly over mass texting and emails,” said Relay Chair Nicole Cesanek ’23.
The event began with performances from the student-run organization, Listeners and Performers. Then, the members provided attendees with an opportunity to visit fundraising tables run by various on-campus organizations, before proceeding to the Relay for Life ceremonies. The organizers also provided food and drinks to attendees, and they sold raffle tickets throughout the event.
Cesanek said, “We had a luminaria ceremony where we used paper bags and put candles inside of them and had a moment of silence for people that have family members that are fighting or were fighting cancer.”
Fundraising Chair Caden Simons ’24 said, “Approximately fifty people were in attendance minus the members.”
The organization raised about $15,000 from students and on-campus organizations prior to Relay for Life, and they increased the amount raised to over $22,000 after the event.
“It was the first time [the event] ran since 2019 in-person, and we doubled what we made last year,” said Cesanek.
