Tag: relay for life

OWU for a cure

The sign at Relay for Life. Photo courtesy of Kera Bussey Sims.
The sign at Relay for Life. Photo courtesy of Kera Bussey Sims.

Participants at Relay for Life walked to remember those with cancer while dressed as comic book superheroes.

The annual overnight event sponsored by Colleges Against Cancer, was held on March 20 to March 21. Teams are formed and the members participate in different events throughout the night. The participants stay up all night, or as long as they can, taking laps around the track and doing different activities.

Sophomore Shaaref A. Shah, one of the presidents of Colleges Against Cancer, stated “weeks before Relay for Life, Colleges Against Cancer began promoting the event through social media.” The members of CAC sent out emails to teachers, alumni, and everyone else affiliated with Ohio Wesleyan that might want to participate.

One thing that made this year’s Relay for Life event different from year’s past is the theme. After the teams were established, CAC held meetings with the team captains to think of fundraising ideas, which was where the superhero theme was established.

Students walk for a cure in the Gordon Field House. Photo courtesy of Kera Bussey Sims.
Students walk for a cure in the Gordon Field House. Photo courtesy of Kera Bussey Sims.

The goal this year was to raise a minimum of $15,000 to donate to American Cancer Society. The proceeds have not been counted in its entirety yet, but as of publication, OWU raised $14,000.

“My mom had cancer so I wanted to be here to support her,” sophomore Rick Gordon said. “That is my main reason.”

Fellow sophomore Claire O’Keeffe added “Relay for Life is important to me because I have lost family members to cancer in the past years and recently. Also, I thought it would be fun to come and walk around with my friends”.

Colleges Against Cancer meets every Wednesday at 5:00 pm in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.