The College hosts the annual cancer awareness event
Ramsey Kincannon
News Editor
Every year, many college students across the country team up in order to raise money for cancer awareness through the American Cancer Society. The College of Wooster is no exception. Tonight, dozens of Wooster teams will join together in an effort to fight cancer, raise money and spend some time with friends.
Relay for Life has become so successful and so influential that it has spread to 21 other countries. It initially started in 1985, when Gordon Klatt, a surgeon from Washington state, wanted to raise money for his cancer patients. In order to do so, he walked around Baker Stadium (part of the University of Puget Sound) for 24 consecutive hours. He walked 83 miles and raised $27,000, all of which went to the fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society realized the potential of this event and began to organize it annually.
Generally, the way Relay for Life is organized allows for a variety of events. Since participants are constantly walking laps, the people behind the event have introduced music and various activities in order to make Relay for Life more exciting. Usually, there is a Survivor Lap, where people who have won the fight against cancer walk and celebrate their success and the continued effort to overcome it. Other specific moments include the Luminaria Ceremony — a candlelit moment to commemorate those who passed away because of cancer — as well as the universally participated Final Lap, where participants promise to continue to raise money for cancer research.
At the College, there are sure to be a variety of bands and other performances that continue to encourage those participating in the all-night affair. Currently, the groups at Wooster have raised over $7,000 to donate to the American Cancer Society. As of print time, the Greek group Zeta Phi Gamma has raised the most money, with $1,295 in total. Alpha Gamma Phi has contributed $1,160, and the group “Committee” has chipped in $911 to the fund. There have been several individual contributors raising a lot of money, too, with their donations growing to over $500.
The event starts at 6 p.m. Friday and continues until noon on Saturday at the Scot Center, with all monetary contributions going towards the American Cancer Society.