Caitlin Daniels
Staff Reporter
This May, McDaniel will host its fifth annual Relay for Life fundraiser. The event is held globally, in twenty different countries and across the United States. Proceeds go to cancer research and to the American Cancer Society to create programs for cancer patients and survivors.
The campaign slogan is “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” Many participants come to celebrate those who have overcome the obstacle of cancer, others are there to remember those who were unable to overcome the disease, and all are there fighting back by raising money in hopes of finding a cure.
“Relay,” as those involved refer to it as, will start at 6 p.m. on May 1st at Bair Stadium and will continue through the night ending at 6 a.m. Beyond promoting such a positive cause, the event is turned into a huge party. Entertainment promoting this year’s carnival theme will include blow up games, moon bounces, carnival games, trivia contests, root beer pong tournament, balloon animals, a cake to commemorate the 5 year milestone, a DJ, and more to occupy participants throughout the evening and into the wee hours of the morning.
Relay draws all types of participants, beyond the McDaniel community, including people who live in Westminster. Past participants include campus clubs and organizations, college staff, fraternities, sororities, professors of the college, groups of friends, local high school organizations, McDaniel sports teams, sports teams from local high schools, and community teams.
Each year new goals are set. Last year’s goal was surpassed with over $36,000 raised, over 500 participants, and 25 survivors in attendance. Despite the poor economy, Bianca Rieti, president and chair of Relay for Life at McDaniel, said that this year’s earnings have already exceeded last year’s earnings reached before the event. With April being the biggest fundraising month, exceeding this year’s goal is promising.
“I don’t ever think about Relay as potentially being unsuccessful because as long as there are people at the event and we are raising money, I know we are doing a good thing,” Rieti said.
Members of the Relay for Life committee at McDaniel College include Jodi Feehan, Lauren Wyble, Kim Staub, Alison Rose, Chris Zimmerman, Nicole Harris, Jessie Dunn, Kristen McGeeney, BethAnn Turner, Hayley Grist, Emily Reed, and Marilyn Topper.
Interested in participating? It’s not too late! Log on to www.relayforlife/org/mcdaniel for online registration or send Rieti an email at the following address. Registration is even available at the stadium on May 1 when the event begins. For more information or if there are any questions, please feel free to contact Rieti at bar002@mcdaniel.edu .