2008 Woodie Awards
Smith Students Walk to Cure Cancer in Relay for Life
Anna Kastrilevich
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: News
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Relay for Life is an 18-hour event where teams walk all night to support cancer research. Team members take turns walking or running laps, but each team must keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Groups of friends, sports teams and clubs form teams of about eight to 15 people, raise money, and then come to the event and celebrate.
According to Liz Morgan '09, the Team Recruitment Chair, about $108,000 was raised from the event, though more donations are still being entered. Last year student and faculty teams raised over $72,000.
"The money goes directly to the American Cancer Society, which works to educate, advocate, research and provide support to those with cancer," Morgan said.
Teresa Kenyon '09 raised the most money in the Relay with $4,800 in donations. Kenyon's group of 17 students, called Moose Trax, raised the most money with $6,565.00. Kenyon said that she fundraised over a three month period by sending out e-mails, personally written cards and phone calls to everyone she knows. The relay's cause hits close to home for Kenyon.
"My father was diagnosed with cancer of the Vena Cava on Christmas," Kenyon said. "I am a first-year, and coming back to college while my father is extremely ill is probably one of the hardest things in the world. I wanted to help him, but I couldn't think of anything that I could do from so far away. The relay is a way to get involved. Hopefully the $7,000 dollars that my team raised will save another beloved father."
Kenyon cites the significance of the strong feeling of community at the event.
"To have six of my best friends sit up all night with me in the freezing cold to walk on a track was probably one of the most thoughtful things in the world," she said. It makes you feel like you're not alone. Everyone is experiencing the same pain, the same fear of losing a loved one.
"I think the most wonderful part of it was the luminaria ceremony. I had gotten a request to light a luminaria for a Smithie's father who had passed away. It was extremely hard because my father is very ill, but it meant everything to this young woman. It makes you think when you see all those little tea lights on the track. They're beautiful but sad at the same time. Remembrance is such a powerful thing."