I became enthralled with Relay for Life when I was in eighth grade, jealous of my older brother who basically signed up for a socially acceptable all nighter. In those moments, I knew that the money fundraised and the energy put toward the event was all for an incredible reason. Cancer awareness has been something close with my heart for quite awhile, as I have had friends, family members and various secondary and tertiary connections to this awful disease, but in my 13-year-old eyes, I saw this town event as something strictly social. I did not wrap my head around its impact and the camaraderie that developed from these 12 hours until I dove head first into its magic.

I'll be honest, I joined Relay my sophomore year of high school, partially to add something to my resume. College applications would be starting sooner than expected, and I wanted to be a part of an organization I genuinely enjoyed, but yes, that would also make me look like a desirable candidate in the future. This was before I knew what work, brainstorming and emotion came along with this Relay for Life journey. Thanks to the current student chair at the time, I was taken under her wing and became the online chair, managing the website, updating individuals on meetings and handling online donations. I devoted hours to this role, sometimes more hours in an evening than I did my homework (whoops), as well as spent an immense amount of time thinking of creative new ways to increase community and school outreach. My first Relay on a committee was by far more memorable than my first Relay participating because I knew I put in the work to not only perfect its logistics, but bring a community together.

I had caught the Relay bug; I was invested in this organization because I saw, firsthand, how many people gathered together to commemorate each other, their loved ones who were looking down at us from up in the clouds and those who needed that extra push of support to keep fighting. The next year, I reassumed my role as online chair, but also shadowed the student chair, for I would be running the show alongside another one of my peers during my senior year. There was work to be done and fundraising goals to be met, and I was beyond motivated to leave my mark on this town through this incredible organization.

I had personal connections to cancer: I had a friend fight a battle against a brain tumor when we were in the fourth grade, a great-aunt and great-uncle who passed within five days of each other due to cancer, a second grade teacher who conquered breast cancer, a second cousin who fell to melanoma, family friends who were blindsided with the news that they only had a short amount of time left, a beloved principal who passed away weeks before our Relay event senior year, and at the time, my grandpa had been battling colon cancer and became a survivor. He would later lose his battle to lung cancer three years later, but in those moments, he was a fighter. All of these fighters, all of these supporters, all of these people who saw Relay for Life as the glimpse of hope for them to unite with others enduring similar hardships.

So, why do I Relay? Why do I invest 12 hours of my day to walk around a track? Why do I fundraise for this cause? Because of the fighters I have experienced in my life. For the survivors I have encountered. For the people who I wish had one more day on this earth but didn't get the chance to because cancer won. For my grandpa – my buddy, my pal, and one of my number one fan – who I miss every day. For the planning and the chaos of the 12 hours. For the effort it takes to motivate others to keep going. For nights similar to that of my senior year Relay, where it monsooned outside, yet our executive team came together to implement a rain plan to honor all of those affected by cancer and its cruel ways, including the late Rich Lio, our former principal and the pioneer of Relay at Ramsey High School. For the continued fundraising and the celebration of the million dollar fundraising milestone in my hometown. For the $250,000 fundraised during my year as student chair. For the contributions to Colleges Against Cancer and building Relay for Life at Elon University to be the best it can be. For the students and peers I encounter every day who have encountered cancer at a personal level. For that feeling when you crack a glowstick in honor of a lost loved one at the Luminaries ceremony. For the empowerment and motivation to fight back against a disease that has taken too much from too many. For the slew of emotions encountered all in one night, knowing your work made all the difference.

Since enrolling at Elon, I have not been as avid of a committee member as I had been in the past. I have taken a step back from the executive role and have enjoyed being a part of it from the other side, as a participant. That doesn't mean I have stopped loving this organization; it means I appreciate it from an entirely new perspective. I see my role as a student participant as someone who can be one of the best team members I can be, putting my full heart and effort into an organization that has given me comfort and solace during some of the most difficult moments of my life. I love all that Relay for Life has to offer, and I love that it has become such a huge part of me, and I am confident in saying that this organization will always have a piece of my heart. To my survivors, I am so grateful to still have you in my life. To my fighters, you have so much support behind you, it's incredible. To my angels up in the clouds, I miss you more than you know and can feel your presence in more ways than one. I will celebrate, remember and fight back for each and every one of my personal and distant connections to this disease, in hopes of seeing it dispelled from our world forever.