The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: News

Media Credit: NICK PASSERELLO Cancer survivors and Hairy Dog led the opening lap of Relay For Life Friday at Spec Towns Track. The annual event centers around an all-night walking relay with teams raising money to donate to the American Cancer Society. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: NICK PASSERELLO Luminaries line the length of the Spec Towns track after dark at Relay For Life. Attendees could donate to commemorate those affected by cancer. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: SARA GUEVARA Runners circle the track at the 2008 Relay for Life event at the UGA Spec Towns Track Friday. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: NICK PASSERELLO Elizabeth Wilson, an international business major from Lilburn, is captive at the Relay For Life in a booth led by the Honors Program Student Council. Patrons could pay $1 to have someone arrested and another $1 for bail. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: NICK PASSERELLO The Stephen Sowell Band performs at Relay for Life Saturday night at Specs Town Track. [Click to enlarge]

Deborah C. Knight, Sally Kera, Darlene Obrien, Margaret Corrigan and Charlie Turk - names of only a few of the many people who died from cancer and were honored at this year's "Rock Out to Block Out Cancer" Relay for Life event.

The event raised more than $205,000 to help fund cancer research in order to find a cure for the disease, the group's public relations chair Jamie Traynor, told The Red & Black in a telephone interview.

More than $25,000 of the total amount was raised at the event by individual donations and team fundraisers, Traynor said.

Although the amount raised was shy of Relay's $300,000 goal, Traynor said the group was excited about the effect Relay has on cancer research.

"It's still a phenomenal amount of fundraising for a good cause," Traynor said. "I hope that they really get an appreciation for how cancer affects peoples lives."

Held at the University Specs Town Track Friday, the event attracted a record of more than 2,500 participants.

"We are all very proud of all the work that went into the event and so grateful that everyone came out," said the group's accounting chair, Taylor Carlton.

"Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back," was the slogan as the event held various activities in the memory and in the honor of those affected by cancer.

In a video, Kathryn Richt, a survivor of cervical cancer and football head coach Mark Richt's wife, gave words of encouragement to the audience before the honoring of those affected by the disease.

A slideshow of pictures of those who died from cancer ran, complete with pictures from University students.

In the slideshow, a recent University graduate told his story of being diagnosed with cancer several weeks ago.

Everyone was asked to participate in a silent walk around the track led by a bagpipe rendition of "Amazing Grace" to honor and remember those lost.

"I'm here in the memory of my grandpa who passed away two years ago and everyone that's fighting it," Kelly McNichols, a sophomore from Naperville, Ill. said. "It's breath-taking the amount of people who show up and show their support."

There was also a survivor's walk in which those who had overcome cancer had the opportunity to walk around the track with the people who supported them during their experience.

"Cancer survivors are honored here and they are proof that what we are doing is making a difference," Traynor said.

Luminaries, small bags with candles lit inside, circled the track. Students, faculty and staff could buy a luminary in memory of those who died and in the honor of those affected by cancer as one of the many fundraisers for the event.

Each team held its own fundraiser during the night such as bake sales, games and activities. The Honors Program Student Council raised money with their "Doin' Hard Time to Fight Cancer" fundraiser.

With a donation of $1, a friend could be "arrested" and held until they collect another donation for bond, said Emily McGee, a freshman from Winder.

A hundred teams participated in the event and raised money throughout the year.

Relay required each team to have a member walk the track at every moment during the relay.

Many teams brought tents in anticipation for the event, which lasted from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday. Many stayed awake taking part in the music, food and games available.

Various groups, including music bands and Greek organizations, performed throughout the night. Relay for Life supporters and cancer survivors also took the stage encouraging students to have annual check-ups despite their age.

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