Relay for Life Rallies Students and Community

by Daniel McCue on 06/11/09 at 3:52 pm

Saturday October 17th, more than three hundred Eastern students joined members of the Windham community on Eastern’s baseball field for their annual Relay for Life event. Eastern’s Director of the Center for Community Engagement, Kim Silcox, noted that such a high number of student participants in this year’s event was a “tremendous turnout”. Eastern was represented by twenty-five registered teams of students, who, like senior Todd Vivolo, came “to raise money and awareness and to get involved in the community.” All teams contributed to the fight against cancer by raising money in group efforts as well as individually. Several teams were formed by residence halls or student clubs, which raised money for the cause in the weeks leading up to the annual event through fundraisers such as penny wars and by other means.
On the event’s chilly day, teams mixed with each other to make the relay both the fun and touching experience it is meant to be- as outlined in the event’s slogan, “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” “Celebrate” refers to The Survivor’s Lap, which gives cancer survivors and their caregivers the chance to be recognized for victoriously overcoming their battles with the sickness. “Remember” refers to The Luminaria Ceremony, which honors loved ones who have lost their lives to the disease. The Luminaria Ceremony was extremely powerful; lit luminary bags outlined the baseball field, and the words “Hope” and “Faith” were spelt out by candles along the bleachers, creating a bright, hopeful contrast to the dark sky. Finally, the “Fight Back” portion of the event includes participants making individual pledges of commitment to continue to take a stand in the fight against cancer.
Throughout the day participants walked around the perimeters of the baseball field, often bouncing along with the music playing from the main tent situated on home plate. There were various tents set up by different teams that sold baked goods, jewelry, and other items to further raise money for the cause. Surrounding home plate on the baseball field, Relay for Life memorabilia could be purchased, as well as tickets for the baskets that each registered team provided to be raffled off. Eastern even had its own tent where student team members could stop and rest from walking and make posters, grab a bite to eat, or sip on some hot apple cider.
Relay for Life is meant to be a life-changing experience and to touch the lives of all who attend. Participants were certainly affected by the event. For freshman Sebastian Gronback, “Relay” means “fighting the good fight and for people you care about. My aunt died of cancer and I’m supporting her.” Another freshman, James Young, commented, “I’m here because my grandma died from breast cancer and I’ve been doing this every year since then.” For freshman April Beckman, a first-time participant in Relay for Life, the event was truly something special. Her mother is a four-time survivor of cancer; as April watched the Survivor’s Lap and noticed the medals the survivors wore, she realized her mother would be wearing four of them. This realization helped April see just how serious her mother’s battle against cancer, something they had previously never really talked about, was. “After Relay I called her and we talked about it and now I’m able to understand her better. It was a good experience,” April stated.
Overall, Windham’s Relay for Life was an overwhelming success in celebrating life, remembering those who have been lost, and fighting back against cancer

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