Relay for Life raises over $55,000
Saturday at 3 p.m. marked the kick-off of Relay for Life, an international overnight fundraiser where teams take laps around a track, raising both money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. This year marked the fifth year that the College has hosted the event for both students and the Hanover and Lebanon communities. This weekend saw close to 500 participants and raised over $55,000 for the ACS, according to the event's website.
Relay for Life is about more than just the day, but is about celebrating the year-long fundraising efforts for the ACS, Vanessa Trinh ’14, co-chair of Dartmouth's Relay for Life, said. Both fundraising and planning for Relay for Life started in September. The weekend incorporated numerous activities and performers, including a capella groups, dance troupes and even salsa lessons to keep the event fun and festive.
This year's event was the first time Dartmouth held Relay for Life outdoors in Maynard Lot, adjacent to Dick's House. In previous years, Relay for Life has been held in Leverone Field House.
"Relays are traditionally held outside," Trinh said. "There is a whole different feel to the event. People bring tents and camp out; it's a lot more authentic."
While many Relay for Life events are a full 24 hours, Dartmouth's event concluded at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning at the 15-hour mark. Trinh cited college students’ schedules as a main reason for abbreviating the event. Even so, the overnight nature of Relay for Life symbolizes a patient’s journey with the night's darkness and the fatigue that participants may experience representing the darkness of cancer treatment. The break of day represents the end of treatment, and marks the end of the Relay, explained Trinh.
Each Relay for Life event features a Luminaria ceremony, held after sunset, and remembers those who have lost their lives to cancer as well as honoring those currently suffering, said Elizabeth Twomey ’15, the Luminaria co-chair for Dartmouth's Relay. Luminaria took place at 9 p.m. on Saturday night and featured a "lap of silence," a slideshow of words of messages and hope, and speaker Savannah Martin ’13.
Those involved with Relay for Life will often cite personal reasons compelling them to be involved with Relay. Martin, who lost her father to lung cancer in the past year, got involved in Relay this past winter. "When cancer strikes so close to home, you look at Relay in a different light," she said.
Martin captained the Virgil Dean Martin Jr. Memorial Fund team to honor her father. The team, made up of 16 members of Kappa Delta sorority, raised over $3,000, the largest amount raised by a team led by undergraduates at this year's event.
"If I have the ability to help someone else, then I also have the responsibility to do that as well," Martin said. "I think being involved with Relay will be a lifelong thing."
In spite of poor weather, this year's Relay for Life topped last year's fundraising total by about $1,200, raising approximately $11,000 the day of the event alone, Trinh said.