The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Caitlin Kinnett Alex Adams, a sophomore majoring in zoology, stretches with part of his team representing Sigma Phi Epsilon after running a warm up lap around the track inside the recreation center on Friday. Teams gathered up on Friday night to participate in the annual Relay for Life.

A virtual shantytown of tents, sleeping bags, and blankets littered the floor of the CSU Student Recreation Center's floor as students camped out in the cavernous gym and watched their fellow students walk seemingly endless laps on the track above.

Fraternities, sororities, residence halls, businesses, clubs and students from around the university stayed up late and walked the center's indoor track for the third annual CSU Relay for Life. From 8 p.m. until 8 a.m. relay team volunteers circled the one-eighth of a mile path to raise money for cancer research. At least one member of each relay team was on the track at all times.

Jeff Rosenberry, the event chairperson for Colleges Against Cancer, said that the experience "simulates the life of someone with cancer because cancer never sleeps."

Relay for Life was started in 1985 after Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma surgeon, was inspired to raise money for his local ACS office. A marathon runner, Klatt spent 24 hours on the track at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, running more than 83 miles. Friends paid Klatt $25 to run or walk with him and by the end of his grueling experience he raised $27,000.

This was CSU's third and most successful year hosting a Relay for Life. Last year, 13 teams registered and raised $8,500. This year 42 teams participated and raised over $26,000. Rosenberry, who is a cancer survivor himself, said that the money raised goes directly to the American Cancer Society and the money will help fund cancer research.

Students have been fundraising for the event for weeks and Rosenberry said that the relay is more like "the party after the fundraising." The theme for this year's relay was "Lights, Camera, Take Action."

The Relay for Life Web site states that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and many of the students involved with the relay shared a common experience: Knowing someone with cancer.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools