Holy Cross Students Host Relay for Life

On April 22, 29 teams made up of 213 members of the College of the Holy Cross community participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, a fundraising event that aims to raise support for cancer research and awareness of the disease while remembering all those affected. The event began at 6 p.m. in the Fieldhouse and continued until 2 a.m. the following morning.

Relay for Life is made up of three ceremonies: Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. The Holy Cross a capella group The Delilahs performed at the Celebrate opening ceremony, after which a Survivor’s Walk took place. Helen Freear-Papio, director of the Foreign Language Assistants program and a cancer survivor, gave a speech about her battle with the disease during the Luminary ceremony. In honor of her mother, who last her battle with cancer, Elizabeth Glynn ’16 spoke following the lighting of the Luminaria bags in remembrance. A photo slideshow was shown in honor of those who have lost their battle. For the Fight Back ceremony, Alexandra Gallo ’16 spoke to encourage all participants to pledge that their fight against cancer did not end with the relay, but would continue in their everyday lives.

This year’s theme was “Willy Wonka.” The various activities offered included a photo booth, air brush tattoos, ballroom dancing, and edible sand art made of Pixie Stix sugar. Organizations such as Cures for Kids, Autism Awareness, and ASIA set up informational tables during the relay and a Zumba event was held at 1 a.m.

Last year the event raised $36,500 in solidarity with the fight against cancer. This year organizers aim to surpass that amount with a goal of $40,000 and have currently raised $21,144.32. Efforts to fundraise will continue until the end of August, 2016.

For more information visit the Holy Cross Relay for Life website.