Harding University will sponsor an American Cancer Society Relay for Life event on the front lawn tonight at 6 p.m.
Relay for Life was started in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., to raise funds and awareness for all types of cancer victims across the country. This is an overnight, marathon-style event in which teams camp out and take turns walking throughout the night.
This is the third consecutive year that Harding has participated in Relay for Life. In the past two events, Harding has raised a combined $13,000 in donations. This year, the Relay for Life team is hoping to nearly double that overall total.
“Our goal this year is $12,000,” said the event co-chair Andrea Stackpole. “We know it’s a big jump, but we have faith in our student body. We are expecting about 250 people, but we need all the help we can get.”
This week, students have had the chance to “paint the campus purple” to raise awareness for the upcoming event and to learn facts about cancer. Activities for the official event will begin at 6 p.m. and will include live music, an inflatable obstacle course, food and drinks.
Normally, Relay for Life takes place around a track, as it has at Harding the past two years. This year, however, the committee has decided to mix things up by moving activities to the front lawn.
“It’s a more central location,” Stackpole said. “This event is all about raising awareness, and the front lawn is more visible and easily accessible.”
With all the various activities going on at Relay For Life, the committee is still making sure that all of the focus is on raising awareness for cancer victims. The three main activities of the night are the Survivor Lap, the Luminaria Ceremony and the Fight Back Ceremony. The Survivor Lap will take place at the beginning of the Relay when cancer survivors will have a chance to walk around the front lawn and celebrate their victory over cancer. The Luminaria Ceremony will involve remembering those afflicted by cancer with candles, and during the Fight Back Ceremony, participants will be encouraged to make a personal commitment to the fight against cancer.
For more information about Relay for Life or other ways to get involved, be sure to visit relayforlife.org or stop by the booth in the student center.
