Santa Clara hits the pavement in annual Relay

By Kurt Wagner

By the time Santa Clara begins to awaken on Saturday morning, a number of students and community members will already be in full stride at the fourth annual Relay For Life event held at Washington Elementary School.

The 24-hour relay, which kicks off at 10 a.m., is just one of hundreds of similar relays that occur each spring across the country as a way to raise money for cancer research. All money raised goes straight to the American Cancer Society, an organization dedicated to funding cancer research and treatment.

Junior co-coordinator Brittany Benjamin said that Relay officials are optimistic for a strong turnout, hoping to raise over $100 thousand with over 600 participants.

However, due to the slow economic times, funding and donations for the event are the lowest they have been since 2006, said senior Event Chair Alex Blumberg-Long.

Event coordinators are hoping to surpass the $36 thousand raised by the Santa Clara community in 2006 after the weekend is complete, but will remain short of last year's fundraising total of $105 thousand.

Despite economic hardships, the spirit of the participants remains high, said Blumberg-Long.

"We didn't take into account last year the possibility of our steady economic decline," said Blumberg-Long. "It's incredible how many people have, despite their economic hardships, contributed so heavily to our event. It's really very uplifting."

Colleges Against Cancer, a Santa Clara club on campus, has teamed up with Relay for Life to bring money back to the community. The local event has seen dramatic increases in participation and fundraising over the last four years.

"Sixty-percent goes back to the Santa Clara community for cancer survivors, raising awareness, stuff like that," said Benjamin.

Last year, Santa Clara's Relay for Life received the Circle of Excellence award for the second year in a row after doubling participation, donations and number of teams. To date, over 575 members have signed up on 66 teams.

Festivities on Saturday will begin with an opening ceremony followed by the Survivor's Lap, where an expected 50 survivors and those currently fighting cancer will initiate the relay by walking the first lap around the track.

The impact of the lap is felt by all those who are present, regardless of whether or not they have been personally affected by cancer, said Blumberg-Long.

"It may well be one of the most powerful experiences that I will ever have," said Blumberg-Long of the opening ceremonies. "Every year now that I see the survivor lap it is truly incredible."

Immediately following the Survivor's Lap will be the event's first ever Caregiver Lap, where survivors will walk arm in arm alongside those who have supported them throughout their battle with the disease.

Along with getting the relay started, cancer survivors will continue to be celebrated throughout the event, explained Benjamin. Cancer survivors will have their own tent set up with food and beverages, a personal full body masseuse, as well as a Survivor Luncheon.

Other participants also camp out, often for the full 24 hours. Local Boy Scout troops have even donated a number of tents for the event in order to provide walkers with a place to sleep if necessary.

"The event is all about showing support for the survivors," said Blumberg-Long. "The most important thing is getting people to show up during the 24 hours to show that the university and students support and respect what these powerful men and women have been through."

Throughout the day, walkers will be entertained by live music from local bands, Santa Clara's own dance crew, "Hipnotik", as well as a scheduled appearance by "Sharky the Shark", the mascot for the NHL's San Jose Sharks franchise.

Walkers will also be encouraged to decorate bags to be used as luminaries during the Luminaria Ceremony which will happen at approximately eight o'clock. The candle-lit bags, inscribed with the names of cancer victims or prayers, will line the track as a glowing memorial to those who have passed.

"That's when things really quiet down," said Blumberg-Long. "The Luminaria Ceremony is a time for reflection."

With the relay only three blocks from campus, student coordinators are encouraging Santa Clara students to stop by, even if they are not signed up, said Benjamin.

"Students will go with the intention of staying for an hour and they'll end up for four or five or the entire day just because they're having fun," she said.

Brian Velasquez contributed to this report. Contact Kurt Wagner at (408) 554-4849 or jwagner@scu.edu.