By Alli Dayton, Managing Editor
On Saturday, the American Cancer Society on Campus hosted its annual Relay for Life event. By the end of the event, the organization raised $27,274,81 for the American Cancer Society (ACS).
From left to right, Relay for Life Vice President Hanna Schwarzer ’24 and Co-Presidents Caden Simons ’24 and Nicole Cesanek ’23 (Photo courtesy of Ellabelle Pedersen)
According to Co-President Nicole Cesanek ’23, students involved began planning for the event in the summer of 2022 and continued to plan through weekly meetings leading up to the event.
“During the first couple of meetings, we discussed where we wanted the event to be and what we wanted to do, and then we made committees to plan each part,” explained Cesanek.
During the event, attendees enjoyed yard games, arts and crafts, snacks, and student dance and musical performances. Students also entered raffles and participated in sorority powderpuff games and fraternity tug-of-war matches.
Zoe Want ’25, a member of Chi Omega’s winning powderpuff team said, “Chi Omega has a lot of sisters who are student-athletes, so it did not surprise me that we had a lot of athletic talent…it was so much fun playing for an amazing cause.”
Following the sorority powderpuff games, the event endured complications due to weather conditions.
Powderpuff competition at Relay for Life (Photo courtesy of Ellabelle Pedersen)
“There were 60-mile-per-hour wind gusts that blew over the arts and crafts table and the raffle table was completely messed up…so our team all swarmed to clean everything up,” said Cesanek.
Cesanek and Co-President Caden Simmons ‘24 then made the decision to move the remainder of the event indoors.
“Everybody that was there all helped pack up boxes…even people that weren’t even signed up to help helped,” said Cesanek. “We had a really great team that helped get everybody over, and then once we got into the ballroom, we set up the stuff that was still salvageable.”
Relay for Life concluded with an opportunity for students to speak or sing about why they participated in the event. Then, attendees had the opportunity to participate in the luminaria ceremony, where they dedicated paper lanterns to loved ones who fought or were fighting cancer.
Cesanek shared, “We ended up doing the luminaria ceremony by setting up the luminarias on the stage and having people do a silent walk around the stage and do a moment of silence.”
Over 350 students and community members attended Relay for Life. Many students expressed that they appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the American Cancer Society through the event.
Abby Panepinto ’23 said, “I was highly involved with Relay for Life in high school and it wasn’t until this year that I truly saw the event be taken to its full potential. I am glad to have supported the American Cancer Society for so many years and will continue to do so after graduation.”
The American Cancer Society On Campus is continuing to raise funds for ACS until April 22. Students who wish to donate can contact Cesanek or donate directly through their website.
