Founded in 2001 by three college students in Illinois, Colleges Against Cancer has grown to include 500 chapters across the country, including Hamline University! Relay For Life is an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society to spread awareness and provide encouragement to those affected by cancer. The event takes the form of a twelve hour fundraiser where teams of varying sizes WALK
the track in a relay fashion (at least one person on the track from each team at all times). This is an overnight event because people affected by cancer cannot simply go to bed to escape the fact; cancer doesn't go away simply because they are tired, and neither will our support for our friends, family, and anyone else we know who may have been affected by cancer. What Happens at a Relay Event
There are many moments that create the Relay experience. Specific details vary by event. But the key moments that all events share in common are listed below:
Survivors Lap
Relay starts with a Survivors Lap – an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories we’ve achieved over cancer. We also recognize and celebrate caregivers at Relay For Life. These individuals give their time, love, and support to friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers who face cancer. Luminaria Ceremony
After dark, we honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaria Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence. Fight Back Ceremony
Last, there is a Fight Back Ceremony, where we make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. That personal commitment may be to do something as simple as getting a screening test, quitting smoking, or talking to elected officials about cancer. By taking action, people are personally taking steps to save lives and fight back against a disease that takes too much.
