By: Kanisha Fowler
The event that raised over 20,000 dollars last year is back for the second year in a row, with its goal of reaching 30,000 dollars.
Relay for life is an event aimed to raise money for Cancer research. The event takes place on a track field, and teams of people set up tables to sell different items. The idea of the night is to have someone from each team walking on the track at all times, as a symbol that Cancer is an ongoing battle. All the money raised from the event goes to the Relay for Life Organization.
Anna Peachey, Ruth Anna Housand, and Emily DeVries are the Co-Chairs for this year’s event at Gardner-Webb. They are in charge of the publicity, the teams and clubs signed up to have a table, the performers for the night and more.
DeVries said, “We are currently in the final countdown for Relay. My team and I are working to ensure that all the logistical details are confirmed, as well as encouraging students on campus and members of the local community to come out and show their support on Saturday.”
There will be a deejay playing music throughout the night and a schedule of performances from Joyful Hands, Acafelons and Heart of Fire Dance Ministry.
“I am really excited for the event as a whole, but my favorite part of the evening is the luminary ceremony. This is a quiet moment, but the feeling of unity and hope is truly powerful,” said DeVries.
The luminary ceremony is where they remember the ones who have lost their life to cancer, celebrate the ones who have previously faced it, and encourage the ones who are dealing with it currently. It is normally a quiet moment with a speaker, and that is when they put a candle in a bag in honor of a person who falls in one of the three categories.
Last year, Gardner-Webb placed the luminaries around the track, and placed the others in the stands to spell out the word hope. When the luminaries are lit, there is a special walk to honor and remember those individuals.
The event is free, but there will be plenty of options to donate money. There will be games, food, or other items being sold for a small donation. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at Spangler Stadium on Saturday, October 11.