Relay for Life Another Success; Raises Over $37,000 for American Cancer Society
Torri Adrian
Issue date: 4/5/06 Section: News
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The annual Relay for life commenced at 6pm Friday April 1, 2006 in Draddy Gymnasium.
Indoor lanterns in memory or in honor of cancer victims and survivors illuminated the track as the opening ceremonies began with Tom McCarthy on bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace." The somber event continued with a speech given by a cancer survivor and a prayer lead by Lois Harr, a member of Campus Ministry and Social Action. Student musicians and the Brendan Nelson group played covers of Coldplay's "The Scientist," and U2's "Walk On" as survivors walked the traditional 1st lap around the track.
The mood lightened when the lights came back on and a myriad of teams began to walk and participated in the many activities that the committee had planned for the evening.
According to Joe Brown, the activity's coordinator, roughly 450 people signed up online, and another 200 registered on the spot, bringing the total for participants to around 650 throughout the night.
The relay, which lasts 12 hours, takes nearly seven months of preparation. Organizers meet once a week and use the previous year's "blueprints," as Brown calls them, to decide what works, what doesn't, and what new things to include. Months of phone calls, mass e-mailings, and advertisements are a major component in the planning process.
"Hardworking people is the number one thing," Brown said, "getting volunteers was never a problem."
A schedule of the events was posted at various places in the Gym, and included musical performances from Philadelphia natives, Snooze Box, and Newborn Three. Activities such as poker and Twister tournaments were popular, with teams such as the Damn Ninjas competing in various events. The Damn Ninjas took first place in the B-squad division of the dodgeball tournament, placed 5th and 8th in the Poker tournament, and placed first in the basketball tournaments.
The Poker tournament, which lasted from 8:30pm until 4:30 am, was won by sophomore Joe Giambrone, who received an X-Box 360 for his victory.
The Scatterbomb improv workshop was another favorite among relayers.
Many students were veterans to the relay. "This year it was more organized, but [there were] fewer people," said John Bekisz, a sophomore. "But it was still a lot of fun."
By the end of the night, participants had raised over $37,000, and more donations from corporate matching and other sources will be coming in until August.
"I would do it again next year," one student said. "It's a great social event for a great cause."
Indoor lanterns in memory or in honor of cancer victims and survivors illuminated the track as the opening ceremonies began with Tom McCarthy on bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace." The somber event continued with a speech given by a cancer survivor and a prayer lead by Lois Harr, a member of Campus Ministry and Social Action. Student musicians and the Brendan Nelson group played covers of Coldplay's "The Scientist," and U2's "Walk On" as survivors walked the traditional 1st lap around the track.
The mood lightened when the lights came back on and a myriad of teams began to walk and participated in the many activities that the committee had planned for the evening.
According to Joe Brown, the activity's coordinator, roughly 450 people signed up online, and another 200 registered on the spot, bringing the total for participants to around 650 throughout the night.
The relay, which lasts 12 hours, takes nearly seven months of preparation. Organizers meet once a week and use the previous year's "blueprints," as Brown calls them, to decide what works, what doesn't, and what new things to include. Months of phone calls, mass e-mailings, and advertisements are a major component in the planning process.
"Hardworking people is the number one thing," Brown said, "getting volunteers was never a problem."
A schedule of the events was posted at various places in the Gym, and included musical performances from Philadelphia natives, Snooze Box, and Newborn Three. Activities such as poker and Twister tournaments were popular, with teams such as the Damn Ninjas competing in various events. The Damn Ninjas took first place in the B-squad division of the dodgeball tournament, placed 5th and 8th in the Poker tournament, and placed first in the basketball tournaments.
The Poker tournament, which lasted from 8:30pm until 4:30 am, was won by sophomore Joe Giambrone, who received an X-Box 360 for his victory.
The Scatterbomb improv workshop was another favorite among relayers.
Many students were veterans to the relay. "This year it was more organized, but [there were] fewer people," said John Bekisz, a sophomore. "But it was still a lot of fun."
By the end of the night, participants had raised over $37,000, and more donations from corporate matching and other sources will be coming in until August.
"I would do it again next year," one student said. "It's a great social event for a great cause."