Relay For Life doubled donations from last year

Relay For Life, the signature fund-raising event of the American Cancer Society, will take place Saturday and Sunday at IU. The 20-hour continuous event will help raise funds to battle cancer and honor cancer survivors. \nMore than 800 people are expected to converge on Gladstein Fieldhouse, next to Assembly Hall, at noon Saturday as the event will continue throughout the night and will conclude about 10 a.m. Sunday. \n"It is not a race," said junior Amanda Wheeler, the IU Relay For Life co-chairman. "But rather a chance to raise money for cancer research, remember those we have lost and celebrate those who have won the battle against cancer."\nLast year's inaugural Relay For Life at IU took in nearly $28,000 in total donations. However, this year Relay has already topped that figure in online donations and is projecting to bring in more than $62,000, according to ACS Community Development Director Blair Boles. Holding the Relay for only the second year, IU is already ranked third out of all the college Relays in the region in terms of online fund raising. \n"Donations from the event will go to benefit cancer research, education, early detection methods and to different advocacy issues," Boles said. "Also it will go to help patient services, where they help to improve the quality of life for cancer patients." \nThus far 61 teams, comprised by more than 600 participants, formed by fraternities, sororities, dorm floors, student groups and groups of friends are expected to participate in the event. During the length of the 20-hour event, participants plan to have a least one member of each team walking on the track at all times.\n"However, Relay is not just a group of people walking around a track," said senior and IU Relay for Life Co-chairman Andrew Schlachter. "We have numerous activities, competitions, entertainment groups, speakers and ceremonies that work to keep everyone involved throughout the weekend."\nA survivor victory lap honoring those who have beaten cancer will kick off the event. Other highlights will include a performance by Straight No Chaser, the Luminary ceremony at 9 p.m. and various educational activities designed to create awareness and advocate healthy living. \n"Luminaries are purchased for a donation, and each bag is representative of a person who we have lost and those who have survived cancer," said Wheeler. "We light candles in the bags and read all the names on each bag. It is the most emotional part of the Relay."\nStarting since early October 2004, team members have been actively working on the fund-raising aspect of the event. Each registered team member received his or her own Web page to solicit funds and receive donations via credit card. Other fund-raising activities have included bake sales, T-shirt proceeds, sponsored parties and a Texas Hold'em tournament. A sponsorship committee has also worked to secure corporate sponsorships from local Bloomington area businesses. \n"We really believe Relay for Life could and should be IU's next big philanthropy on campus," said Schlachter. "It is our hope that in five years IU will be known for Dance Marathon, Big Man on Campus, Little 500 and Relay for Life."\nRelay for Life was started in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt who performed the 24-hour walk single handedly to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Since then, Relay has grown rapidly as there are currently about 4,000 events occurring annually throughout the nation, and it has even gone international as eight foreign countries now play host to Relay events. \nThere is no admission price to access the event, and those wishing to participate can simply arrive when the event begins. \n"It is not too late to sign up a team or to make a donation online," Schlachter said. "We encourage people to come out to the event this weekend to participate." \nQuestions can be mailed to iurealy@indiana.edu and donations can be submitted via the Web site www.acsevents.org/relay/in/iu.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Trevor Brown at brownta@indiana.edu.