Relay for Life kick off draws participants aiming to end cancer


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Central Harmony kicked off the event for Relay For Life in the Rotunda in the Bovee University Center, Thursday, Jan. 22.

Colleges Against Cancer’s Relay for Life kickoff was met with a large crowd in the Bovee University Center Rotunda Thursday night. Featuring an informational seminar and speeches from cancer survivors, the event served to get participants excited about the walk in April.

This year however, the typically 24-hour walk would be shortened, explained President of Colleges Against Cancer Lacey Johnson.

“We were one of the last 24 hour relays in Michigan I believe,” Johnson said. “While we love doing the 24 hours and we’re super committed to it, we decided to cut it down this year as a committee. We recognize the pros and cons of doing that but we think it will be beneficial for our relay.”

Johnson stated that she did not view less walk time as a hindrance and that participants should think of it merely as an “extra challenge,” of reaching their goal.

As of last year 93 teams from CMU raised $75,904 in 24 hours, helping 76 survivors. This year Johnson hopes to raise the bar by registering 100 teams and bringing in at least $80,000 to help 100 survivors.

“We’re determined to make this cancer’s last century,” she said.

Backing up Johnson’s statement, mission leader for CAC, Sam Kidd, explained the systematic break down of how the allocation of funds worked and where the money goes.

Roughly 72 percent of all of the money raised goes to program service – whether it’s cancer researches, patient support, prevention info, detection, treatment, Kidd said. 

The remaining 28 percent goes to fundraising and management expenses. 

"The majority of the money is going to kids and people who really need it,” Kidd said. 

Ninety-six percent of funds raised, she said, came from individuals participating in the walk itself.

Johnson, Kidd, and other members of CAC spoke of the logistics and ways to fundraise for Relay for most of the night before keynote speaker Damon Brown, director of Student Activity and Involvement, took the stage.

Keynote speaker Damon Brown, director of Student Activities and Involvement, who has lost his own wife to cancer, commended students for all of the hard work and fundraising that they already had and would accomplish.

“It’s individuals such as yourself who give hope to individuals who are going through (cancer),” Brown said. “There’s so many times when you’re down, when you’re going through treatments and you don’t feel like getting out of bed and the smallest things hurt you – its individuals such as yourself that provide hope and inspiration for those who are going through those dark days.

“If (my wife) Keisha were here, she’d say thank you." 

Already halfway towards their goal of teams registered, 135 participants have already raised $4,789 for the event.

Students interested in joining can visit relayforlife.org/cmumi or check out Central Michigan University Colleges Against Cancer on Facebook for more information.

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About Jordyn Hermani

Troy senior Jordyn Hermani, Editor-in-Chief of Central Michigan Life, is a double major ...

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