Wheaton Wire

Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Elisabeth Salner ’11 Relay coordinators signed students up at the launch.

Wheaton's Relay for Life is enjoying a fresh start this year. With several additional features and a new venue, this year's event, themed Disney, hopes to attract even greater numbers and more participation than last year's formidable turnout.
"Last year's Relay was a really great time," said Josh Begley '10, a co-chair the event along with Kim Wozniakewicz '08 and Kelly Robinson '09.

He anticipates improved excitement and involvement this year. "This year," he said, "we're reaching out to all segments of the school population, including students, faculty, and staff, and the Norton community. We also hope to have a much larger survivor presence at this year's Relay."

Last year's event, which accrued about $37,000 for the American Cancer Society, while outstanding, may be surpassed this year with improved participation.

"My hopes this year are just that we have as much fun as we have in previous years and that we raise as much money as we can to help fight cancer," said Laura Peters '10, a coordinating member of the Relay.

Of the notable additions to this year's event, Begley said, a good deal can be attributed to the newfound support of Athletic Director Chad Yowell, whose assistance allowed for the use of Haas Athletic Center for the Relay and Emerson Gymnasium to hold a mid-Relay sporting competition that will include basketball, volleyball, and dodge ball. In previous years, the event was held in the Dimple or, during inclement weather, in Clark Athletic Center.

"I'm excited about this year's Relay and about the BACCHUS team, even though it took us quite awhile to decide our theme of 101 Dalmatians," said BACCHUS co-president and Relay team member Emily Ayer '09. "I hope the move to Haas will encourage more people to stay the night to create a more fun atmosphere."

With a new indoor venue, the Relay will also include a closing ceremony called the "Fight Back Ceremony," a rite developed just in the past year by the American Cancer Society.
The funds raised from the Relay for Life are distributed according to the American Cancer Society's fourfold allotment: Research, Education, Advocacy, and Patient Services (REAP). The ACS research team boasts an impressive 42 Nobel Laureates.
The educational program, which includes a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week hotline, and the ACS website at www.cancer.org, circulates information on cancer and the services that ACS provides cancer patients and families.

A further fraction of the funds are put towards services such as transportation for cancer patients; twenty-two "Hope Lodges" across the country provide free temporary housing for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment.
At press time, thirteen teams had signed up for Wheaton's Relay for Life and $1,420 had been raised, with Wheaton Swimming and Diving's team, "Finding Nemo," the top fund-raiser at $525.

"The Relay really is something that can bring the whole Wheaton community together," said Begley. "It's an incredibly fun and moving 15 hours, and participants can be assured that the entertainment and main ceremonies of the 2008 Relay are going to be better than ever."

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