 "Photo: Nick Kneer / IC")
Students who participated in the American Cancer Society's 2010 Relay for Life raised $10,433 to help fight against the spread of cancer.
The 471 participants in this year's relay formed 36 teams who were asked to raise at least $500.
Their goal was to raise $30,000 for the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research that will help find a cure for the disease.
Each student paid $10 to register for the relay, which took place Friday in the Student Recreation Center.
"This is an all-night event to signify that cancer never sleeps," said Courtney Schott, a senior majoring in recreational therapy who volunteered at the event.
Schott said this is her fourth year participating in Relay for Life.
"We have more teams and more people here, it's definitely increasing. There are a lot of new teams," she said.
"People are a lot more excited about it and focused on raising money. They realize the importance of it," said Leslie Miller, a senior majoring in nursing who was also participating in the relay for her fourth year in a row.
"My grandmother had ovarian cancer and she passed away from that," Miller said. "This is an organization that really makes a difference."
Each team had to come up with their own ways to fundraise throughout the semester such as selling root beer floats and t-shirts; and many teams exceeded the $500 goal.
Some of the top teams included Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, UT Lambies and Phi Eta Sigma, who each raised at least $800 according to the Relay for Life UT Web site.
"We raised the most money online, over $1,500," said Jennyfer Darling, a sophomore majoring in computer science and engineering technology who participated on the Alpha Phi Omega team.
Darling said participating in the race was important to her because she also had a family member who lost their life to cancer.
"My grandmother died of liver cancer, this kind of hit home. Even though there is no real cure for cancer, every dollar counts towards finding one. We are walking around the track in time intervals, chilling out, having fun raising money for cancer," she said.
Teams had to complete laps in different time intervals and one person from each team had to be on the track during the entire event.
Each lap around the track had a different theme including a UT Pride Lap, backwards lap, hoola-hoop lap, Jay Leno vs. Conan Lap and a beach ball lap to keep students entertained for the 18-hour relay.
The relay also featured several contests students could participate in.
"My favorite is the Chubby Bunny contest," Miller said. "It is where you stuff as many marshmallows in your mouth until you can no longer say Chubby Bunny."
The participants also held a "Luminary Ceremony" where students wrote the names of family members who survived and lost their lives to cancer on paper bag lanterns they used to line the track.
"My mom is a breast cancer survivor. This event raises awareness so people won't die of cancer," said Alice Garglahn, a sophomore majoring in psychology who participated on the Alpha Chi Omega team. "People don't realize how little things like smoking cause cancer."
While some students participated in the event to honor loved ones who battled cancer, one student took part in this year's Relay for Life to celebrate her personal cancer survival.
Katie Nicolay, a freshman majoring in nursing and participant of Chi Omega said she is one of two cancer survivors in her family.
Nicolay is a survivor of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and said she participates in the event to show others that there is hope.
"I want to show others what going through cancer is like," she said. "It's like posing a challenge for people who have never went through cancer."
Naomi Federman, a sophomore majoring in education, said the Chi Omega team raised almost $1000.
"It's really important that we help find a cure, and every little bit helps even if you donate a dollar," she said.
"The money raised is going right back into the community to find a cure," said Meghan Best, a support staff member of the American Cancer Society.
The American Cancer Society is the second largest donor of cancer research products, Best said, and grant money is locally being invested in the University of Toledo Medical Center to fund cancer research, Best said.
"Relay for Life is its largest outreach project, and I get the amazing opportunity of working with all the students," Best said.
is a member of the 
1 comments