Relay Breaks Record in Cancer Fundraising
By Samantha Juda
Balloon arches, purple signs, tents and walkers filled the grass between Benson Memorial Center and Kenna Hall last weekend for the Relay For Life.
The Relay, which started on campus in 2009, had, by far, the biggest turnout ever for Santa Clara with 526 participants composing of 40 teams, and raising a record amount of $56,305.84 since August.
"This year alone, we have more than doubled Santa Clara's contribution to the American Cancer Society," said Liz Deline, Santa Clara's Relay co-chair.
The event, which lasts 24 hours, benefits the American Cancer Society. The idea is that participants won't sleep because cancer never sleeps. In reality, Relay teams only have to have one representative walking on the track at all times.
The American Cancer Society hosts over 500 Relay for Life's in California alone, along with many more nationwide, to celebrate, remember and fight back.
"You'd think that it would be really kind of sad all the time, working with people who have lost someone to cancer, but ... it's really, really fun," said Deline. "They have this really unique way of combining the really serious, tragic, you know, like the core of what relay and the American Cancer Society is, which is cancer patients and the disease, but then they are able to take it and make it relatable to everyone and have it be a celebration of life, and not just like a sad event."
As the night rolled on, Santa Clara's Relay for Life committee prepared for the luminaria ceremony. Luminaria bags lined the track, in memory or in honor of those who have fought cancer. Each bag was filled out by donors to commemorate those they have lost to cancer and friends or family who have survived the disease.
After the luminaria lighting ceremony, participants walked a lap in silence to remember and honor the lives cancer has taken. The night continued with luminaria bags lighting the way for teams to walk the track.
Angel Perez worked with his fraternity, Sigma Lambda Beta, to fundraise for the event. Perez and his brothers raised over $800 this year. Perez, who has participated in the Santa Clara Community Relay for Life the past three years, enjoyed the large university relay and felt that being on campus helped raise more money.
"This is something really special because we have never done it at our own school ... doing it at your own school is more of a motivational drive," said Perez.
Perez added that the fraternity does multiple events with cancer survivors and finds that "seeing (the survivors) smile, that is what makes us do this every year."
Deline hopes the turnout this year will inspire more to participate in the following years, and help keep the event strong on campus.
Contact Samantha Juda at sjuda@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.