Photo by: Kari Varner
Colleges Against Cancer’s (CAC) sixth annual Relay for Life event Friday night had about 245 participants on 29 teams, raising more than $22,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Last year, Relay for Life raised more than $20,000 and had 270 participants.
The event started at 7 p.m. in Hamilton Gymnasium on Friday, ending at 7 a.m. Saturday.
The theme of this year’s event was Decades of Hope. People came dressed in clothing from their favorite decade, and the DJ played music to correspond with a different decade each hour, said CAC President Jennifer Riggs.
Relay for Life was held on Driscoll Green last year, but organizers decided to move it inside this year because of bad weather concerns, said Riggs.
In addition to the night-long walk around the gym, the event had many activities and performances to entertain participants.
The registration fee for the event was $10, but all activities and food were free to those who registered.
The a cappella groups Idiosingcracies and Exit 205 performed, along with local musician Andy Hackbarth.
Participants could compete in a three-on-three basketball tournament, a limbo competition and a whipped cream pie eating contest.
There was also volleyball and root beer pong.
Several local establishments donated food. Chipotle served chips and guacamole, Papa John’s donated pizza for a late night snack and Einsteins and Starbucks donated breakfast. D.U.G.S. served free dinner to participants as well.
The event also had a Luminaries ceremony, which is done at every Relay for Life event. During the ceremony, participants write on the outside of a white paper bag, dedicating it to survivors and the memory of people who have passed away. They then put a tea light inside the bag to make it glow.
CAC’s goal for Relay for Life has been to make students aware of a way to help fight cancer, said Riggs.
“For the past couple years, the main focus has been really getting the word out,” she said. “People know about cancer, but they don’t really know what to do about it.”
Riggs, a senior, became president of CAC last spring, and has been a member since her freshman year.
She was inspired to join the group because several of her family members have died from cancer, and she had a high school friend pass away from a rare type of muscle cancer a few days before his 18th birthday.
She also decided to join the cause because she has always been interested in oncology. Riggs is going to medical school in the fall.
She has participated in DU’s Relay for Life all four years she has been here.
She also participated in Relay for Life in her hometown in Minnesota several times before coming to college.
CAC Vice President Kali Smith also has participated in Relay for Life all four years she has been at DU.
Smith has a special connection to the cause that inspired her to join CAC as a freshman. She was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was almost 5 years old, and received 26 monts of chemotherapy, she said.
As a 15-year cancer survivor, she continues working in the community with the hope that our generation can end cancer in our lifetime, she said.
CAC had two other large fundraising events this year. In the fall the group hosted its inaugural Breast Cancer Ball, raising about $1,000.
The organization also hosts the Kiss Away Cancer bar party every February. It made about $3,000 at the bar party this year.
Relay for Life started in 1985.Today, more than three million Americans participate in Relay for Life across the country. There also are international Relay for Life events held in 20 other countries.
