Relay for Life tops out at $120,800

Glowing lights - symbolizing all those affected by cancer - led hundreds of students, faculty and staff on McMicken Commons at the University of Cincinnati for the Relay for Life event on April 25 and April 26.

Relay for Life began in 1985 and is now in its sixth year at UC. The kick-off for the event began at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, April 25 and lasted until noon Saturday. The kick-off was a "Survivor Lap" around the track, followed by fundraiser events put together by teams made up of all participants. Tents and sleeping bags were set up in front of Mcmicken Commons for the 18-hour event.

In 2004, more than $41,000 was raised for Relay for Life, and this year they raised more than $120,800, according to Florence Lucas, UC co-chair and a second-year secondary education student.

"Relay for Life is now the single largest community event on campus," Lucas said. "There's over 2,000 students involved this year. Our goal was to have 125 teams, and we have 145 teams. Last year there were 108."

Lucas said the committee planned fundraising events which included a Disney-themed Prince Charming Dating Game contest, a "Lady and the Tramp" spaghetti-eating contest and a "High School Musical" karaoke event. There were also some just-for-fun games to play such as Hi-C flip cup.

"We try new things all the time," Lucas said. "We look for different ways we can reach out to groups."

Another event - giving anyone a chance to show off their art skills, while raising extra money for Relay for Life - to get students involved was an art competition put together by RallyCats Vice President Kendall Atkins.

The art competition had five categories to choose from: painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and miscellaneous. The $5 entry fee went to Relay for Life.

"Relay brings in cancer survivors," Atkins said. "The survivors walk around the track and judge the art as they go. It was more of a way to connect them to UC's Relay for Life. I want them to feel like we truly appreciate them."

Kathy Stites, a 54-year-old survivor who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, attended Relay for Life for the first time this year.

"This Relay for Life is wonderful, considering it's all student organized," Stites said. "I would like to see more students at this age to give more time and effort like this."

One in three Americans will be affected by cancer in their lifetime, and more than 66 percent of cancer deaths are preventable, according to Lucas.

For more information about Relay for Life, visit www.events.cancer.org/RFLUCOH.