Event raises cancer awareness

By Sara Eisenhauer
Cardinal Staff

This year the Saint Mary’s University community raised over $16,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event to fight against cancer.

On Friday, March 20, 184 participants on 20 teams gathered in the Recreation and Athletic Complex (RAC) to walk around the track for 11 hours to celebrate those who have survived, remember those who have been lost and fight back against cancer.

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Sophomore Alison Hill, Relay for Life committee member and co-organizer of the event, was happy with the increase from 16 participating teams last year to 20 teams this year.

“We were happy to see that more students on campus wanted to get involved in such a great cause,” said Hill.

Junior Marissa Kadlec, Relay for Life committee member and co-organizer of the event, believes the event ran smoothly in only its second year at SMU.

“We didn’t really encounter too many challenges due to a great committee working on the event,” said Kadlec. “Our planning committee just about tripled this year, and it really made the event a much bigger success.”

Kadlec believes one of the biggest successes of the event was the amount of money raised this year. Participants were asked to raise $100 each in donations from family, friends and community members. Teams also sold various items throughout the night to raise additional money and participated in events such as lemonade-pong, karaoke and Mr. Relay for Life.

Heidi Loeffler, freshman, and her mother, Melanie Loeffler, kicked off the event by sharing Melanie’s battle with uterine and ovarian cancer in 2004 with participants during the opening ceremony. Though reliving her mother’s battle was difficult for her, Heidi said she admires her mother’s strength and the support that Relay participants showed for her mother and other survivors.

“To see and feel support from others is one thing that keeps cancer patients going strong and positive,” said Heidi. “I think this is a way for everyone to give their time to represent all the ‘down-times’ for cancer patients.”

Throughout the night, participants walked around the track illuminated with luminary bags, each one telling the story of someone affected by cancer. Teams were encouraged to keep at least one member walking at all times. This encourages participants not to fall asleep, representing the idea that cancer is considered the disease that never sleeps.

Ingrid Klockars, sophomore, sees the lighting of the luminaries as a way to honor those who have lost their lives and to make a statement against cancer.

“It is so cool to see all the bags lit and the whole place dark and everyone walking silently to remember everyone who has a name on a bag,” Klockars said.

Though this year was a success, Kadlec and Hill hope the Colleges Against Cancer committee will continue to grow and see an increase in participation and money earned next year.

Hill hopes the event will continue to grow within the SMU community.

“Many people know someone who has in some way been affected by cancer, and it’s a great way to come together as a community to fight the disease,” said Hill.