DU hosted over 220 participants and 29 registered teams in the annual Relay for Life held Friday in Hamilton Gym.
The all-night fundraiser and awareness walk-a-thon event is held each May to support the American Caner Society.
“The Relay for Life signifies the fact that cancer never sleeps,” said junior Amy Knackendoffel, co-president of Colleges Against Cancer, a team who participated in DU’s Relay for Life.
This year, twelve cancer survivors participated in DU’s Relay, several of whom were DU students.
“We have a ceremony dedicated to and centered around the survivors,” Knackendoffel said. “We award them a survivor sash, invite remaining participants to line the track and the survivors then proceed in what is known as the survivor lap.
Cheering, clapping, smiles and tears of joy filled the gymnasium Friday night. This is the first lap taken by anyone at the relay.”
Survivors spotlighted included Karin Hart, a women’s lacrosse player at DU, and Kali Smith, who graduated last year.
Some students entered the event through structured, national committees such as Colleges Against Cancer.
With more than 300 chapters across the country, thousands of college students can make an impact on their campuses and surrounding communities, bringing the fight against cancer closer to home and focusing efforts on strategic communication, such as advocacy and cancer education.
“I personally became involved with Colleges Against Cancer, a committee that organizes Relay for Life, last year,” Knackendoffel said. “After seeing the impact, I decided that I wanted to become involved somehow. I had heard of Relay in the past but never participated. Myself and three other close friends began attending the Colleges Against Cancer meetings and eventually became co-presidents of the committee.”
Knackendoffel and her co-organizers, Laura Russ, Ali Ewanouski and Jackie Reiner began fundraising and arranging details for their participation in the fall academic quarter.
“This event provides the opportunity for DU students, or any community, to share their stories, support those who are fighting and celebrate those we have lost,” Knackendoffel said.
