This past weekend SUNY Oswego held their 10th annual Relay For Life fundraiser. Relay For Life is a charity designed to allow individuals to form their own fundraising events in support of furthering groundbreaking cancer research. The movement is a trademark of The American Cancer Society that allows groups to simultaneously remember those lost as a result of cancer, while generating a way to help those currently affected. Each event is designed to raise funds through participant registration as well as the provision of activities, food, and services in return for small donations over the course of the evening.
Here at SUNY Oswego, the event took place in The Campus Center Arena. A combination of clubs and campus organizations made up the communities, who took part in the Relay event. These groups provided activities ranging from improvisational comedy performances from the Shaun Cass Fan Club, to career coaching from the EXCEL office as provided by Tina Cooper. Additionally the event leaders arranged a series of free entertainment for the event. Relay participants were able to take part in limbo, hula hooping, and even Oreo eating races, to fill their time during the event.
Each Relay For Life event ends with a closing ceremony where participants are able to speak about their loved ones diagnosed with cancer, and awards are given to groups and individuals who were able to raise the most funds. This year SUNY Oswego raised a collective $15,700.
This event continues to be a great way to provide support for individuals across campus, and embody the difference that unity can make. Whether it be their first Relay or their third, students from all realms of the SUNY Oswego campus came together to remember loved ones, honor survivors, and aid in in the provision of future resources for cancer patients and their families.
