Harding’s annual Relay for Life, which raises money for cancer research, will take place on the front lawn tonight.
Senior co-chairs for the event Hannah Stone and Kelsey DeShazo said Relay for Life will feature games, food, bands, bounce houses, guest speakers and competitions. Though Relay for Life is usually a fun event, Stone said it is also very emotional.
Relay for Life is designed to celebrate survivors of cancer and gains in research, remember those who have lost their lives to cancer and fight back against the disease that impacts millions of lives every year. Stone and DeShazo said attendants will honor survivors and victims of cancer by having a survivor lap and a luminaria lap as part of the walk.
“Maybe the $10,000 Harding raises this year will be the extra $10,000 given to a doctor that has a breakthrough for breast cancer or bone cancer,” Stone said. “Every little bit helps.”
Though the city of Searcy has its own Relay in the spring, Stone and DeShazo said they think it is important that the Harding “family” have its own event.
“Searcy is great, and it would be really cool if at some point Harding got involved in their Relay,” Stone said. “But … this is really a way for students to come together and say, ‘This is our family, we’re all here to support those who have had cancer.’ “
DeShazo said that she and Stone definitely want to help meet the financial goal for the event, but they also want to spread awareness of how much the Harding community is affected by cancer. In addition, she said they wanted to help advance Relay for Life and set the university up for an even more successful event next year.
Stone hopes that people who come to Relay can connect with each other through how their lives have been touched by cancer and therefore form a bond and support system.
Stone and DeShazo both emphasized the uniqueness of the Harding Relay for Life.
“Prayer is so unique to Harding,” Stone said. “Other schools and communities can’t really emphasize that. We’re raising money, and I am Relaying for my grandma, and Kelsey is Relaying for her family friend. But even if the breakthrough doesn’t happen in the time that my grandma needs it, we have hope that is greater than just the American Cancer Society coming up with a cure. We know they’ll be better.”
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. Friday and end at 5 a.m. Saturday morning.
Tweet during the event @HUStudentPubs with #HardingRelay
