Relay For Life is an event sponsored by the American Cancer Society every year throughout the country. It is typically an all night event, depending on your particular school or organization. It is a chance to celebrate those who are fighting or who have won their battle against cancer, and to remember those who passed away. Here are seven reasons why you should attend Relay for Life when it comes to your town!
1. The Survivors Lap.
This is the opening ceremony for Relay. Survivors and caregivers line up and take a celebratory lap around the track. It’s the brightest kick-off of the night, and with the survivors at the front, you can see their smiling faces as they realize that these people are here for them.
2. For the survivors and caregivers
Survivors need support. They fought a hard battle, and some may still be fighting, have some compassion. Caregivers have the hardest job. Imagine caring for someone you love while they’re being taken over by this awful thing. Wouldn’t you want to know that there are thousands of people here to support and commend you for everything you’ve done?
3. The Luminaria Ceremony
The Luminaria Ceremony is probably one of the most beautiful things about Relay. White paper bags are decorated in remembrance of a loved one who may have passed away due to cancer, or support of those still battling. Listening to people’s stories about their battles as a caregiver is heartbreaking, but also so heartwarming.
4. The silent lap around the track
This happens right after the Luminaria speeches are finished. Everyone participating in Relay takes a silent lap around the track in memoriam of those who could not be there. The Luminaria bags light the way.
5. The Fight Back Ceremony
At a previous Relay that I attended at SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College's Colleges Against Cancer club hosted a fight back ceremony at around 2:30 in the morning. With the theme being the Olympics, we created rings that looked like the Olympic ones, and made ribbons for participants to pin onto the rings. These ribbons held the names of loved ones who have been affected by cancer.
6. The amount of activities
Clubs and teams set up tables with shirts to buy or activities to do. Miss Relay and karaoke are two of my favorites. Not to mention the fact that E-board of Hartwick College's Colleges Against Cancer club sang with the college’s president!
7. Staying up all night with friends and family
As next year’s president of Colleges Against Cancer at Hartwick College, and someone who has been directly impacted by cancer, there is no place I would rather be on Relay night than walking the track.
I hope to see you all at next year's Relay For Life!
Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.
