Students Fight Cancer During First Annual Relay for Life Event

Two spotlights, one DJ, 22 tents and 496 students gathered around the Campus Green after months of hard work and planning.

KSU held its first annual Relay for Life on April 13, a 12 hour event hosted by the American Cancer Society. Participants camped out around the green from the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. to the concluding ceremony at 7 a.m.

Sophomores Laura Stewart and Haley Carson co-chaired KSU Relay for Life because of their direct link to cancer, and in Stewart’s case, her direct fight with cancer. Stewart even gained the attention of the American Cancer Society and was featured on their website for her efforts to start the event, as well as continuing her fight with cancer.

“We started Relay for Life at KSU because both Laura and I’s lives have been affected by cancer. With Relay, we wanted our dream of seeing the entire campus standing together and fighting against cancer, to come true,” Carson said.

Participating KSU organizations started work months prior to the event with different fundraisers to garner attention and money for their Relay for Life team.

There were a total of 32 registered teams, and 22 of those set up tents as a last fundraising attempt that carried through the night. Gamma Phi Beta sold baked goods as their last effort to raise money.

Gamma Phi Beta sophomore Bekah Gillis was excited to become a part of the cause.

“I’ve been a part of Relay for Life in my hometown since I was a kid, so when I heard that my friends Laura and Haley were going to bring it to campus, I was pumped and ready to get involved,” Gillis said.

Some of the other KSU organizations in attendance included Kennesaw Activities Board, Residence Life, Orientation Leaders, the Dance Program, Distinguished Black Gentleman and many more. Several teams were comprised of those without an affiliation to an organization, but were still looking to help the cause. Sophomore psych and human services major Kelly Sergent was the team captain for one of these groups, the “Hope Heroes.”

“Its empowering to be able to walk continuously knowing that you are taking a stand and making a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer, especially those closest to me,” said Sergent.

Many honored those loved ones by purchasing luminaries, which lit the path surrounding the event. The Luminary Service was meant to honor those who have passed away from cancer and those who have survived cancer.

Luminaries were lit at 10 p.m. in remembrance and a moment of silence followed as the crowd made a lap around the event.

To continue the momentum through to the morning, the DJ kept energy levels high with a group dance to the wobble, team dance numbers and a Miss Relay pageant where guys dawned their best female attire.

The event concluded with announcing the total amount of money raised by KSU. According to the Relay for Life committee, the final amount of money raised was $28,025.41. KSU Relay for Life will continue taking donations online until August 31.

“We have a great feeling about the event for next year, and are hoping that it will be even bigger and will include even more groups of students. Through Relay we are confident that KSU will be a part of changing the world for the better,”  Stewart said.