Author: Nicole Biton

This past Friday, members of the Cornell community participated in Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s annual fundraising event. Held in Barton Hall, the 12-hour, all-night event was run by Cornell’s chapter of Colleges Against Cancer. The event was a huge success, raising over $85,000 towards cancer research. Yet Relay offered so much more than just a fundraising opportunity; it was an evening of laughter, tears and community.

In case you missed out on this meaningful and memorable event, here are some highlights:

The People

The theme of this year’s Relay event was superheroes—a fitting theme to emphasize the power that each person has in the fight against cancer. Over 86 teams registered for Relay this year, comprised of over 1,800 participants from an array of student organizations including Greek Life, athletic teams, performance groups, religious organizations, and philanthropic clubs. The event was also attended by some cancer survivors, as well as by members of the ROTC. With such a profound show of support from so many strong and dedicated members of the Cornell community, the event did more than just remember those who have been affected by cancer: it celebrated their strength.

 

 

The Entertainment

In spite of the event’s weighty cause, Relay also had numerous sources of entertainment for its participants. Various booths offering activities were set up around Barton Hall for participants to partake in between laps around the track. In addition, participants enjoyed performances from a multitude of student performance groups. Among these groups were RISE, Bhangra, On Tap, The Touchtones, BASE, and, of course, Cornell’s own Big Red Marching Band. With so many activities to offer, Relay For Life created a fun way to fight cancer and raise awareness about the disease.

The Luminaria Ceremony

One of the most memorable moments of the night came during the luminaria ceremony. Around 11 p.m., the lights in Barton dimmed and organizers of the event took to the stage to say a few words about cancer. A major theme of their speeches was hope, and how important its role is in inspiring us to keep fighting, no matter how dark things may seem. Participants were then invited to take a silent lap around the track, dropping glowsticks into paper bags that had been dedicated to cancer victims and survivors. The ultimate effect was a circle of light that illuminated the track like a halo. Students cried, hugged, and held hands as they took the moment to remember the loved ones they had lost to cancer. It was an emotional, yet cathartic way to honor and remember those affected by the disease.

 

 

The Unity

Ultimately, the beauty of the event was founded not in the money it raised, but in its capacity to bring people together. The number of people who turned out was overwhelming—not just in revealing  how many people are affected by cancer and how truly pervasive the disease is, but also in how many people have been inspired to take a stand against it. Cancer is such a prevalent  disease and affects so many lives, yet in its devastation it inspires a spirit of cooperation and solidarity against which cancer doesn’t stand a chance. Relay For Life was so much more than a walk to remember—it was a celebration of human life and community that everyone, myself included, feels truly honored to have been a part of.