IU to hold annual Relay for Life charity event

On Saturday, the IU community will play host to its third annual Relay for Life. The event will start at noon at the Billy Hayes Track on North Fee Lane. In the past two years, the IU community has raised more than $140,000, and last year IU ranked as the third largest fund raising university for the American Cancer Society (ACS).\n"This is an incredible success considering how difficult it is to gain student involvement," said Cynthia Morse, event development coordinator of the IU event. "We hope to raise $80,000 in net income this year."\nRelay for Life takes place nationwide during various times of the year and was started 20 years ago. The objective of the relays is to raise money for the services and research of the American Cancer Society.\nDuring the span of two days, staff members organize various ceremonies, events and entertainment for the participating teams. The usual schedule includes an opening ceremony followed by a "victory" or "survivor" lap. Survivors and current fighters of cancer walk together once around the track. Then the teams assemble and begin their nonstop 36-hour relay. \nThroughout the remainder of the first day, various bands, comedians and other forms of entertainment perform while the teams continue to walk. At 9 p.m., the Luminaria service occurs. People pay $10 per candle in memory of a loved one lost to the disease. Survivors take an active role in this event through speeches and presentations. The event ends at 9 a.m. the next day with a closing ceremony.\nPlanning for such an event involves a dedicated team and preparation in five main areas. Currently, 30 students and faculty are giving their time to the development of this event. \nThe first step in planning is team development. According to the Relay for Life Web site, in order to participate in Relay, one must be a member of a team. Morse said starting in January, a group of staff members begin calling old participants and make efforts to recruit new teams for the event. This continues until April.\nSecondly, another group of staff members organize fundraising -- both money and materials -- for the event. Large corporations as well as local companies contribute financially. Local vendors and restaurants donate food as well as other materials needed, such as pens or water bottles.\nTom Morse, a sophomore at IU and cancer survivor, helps with the next step. \n"Survivorship development involves making contacts with survivors in the Bloomington community and getting them involved with the event," he said. "This year, we are doing something special on top of the Luminaria service. We are making a quilt which will be donated to an oncology department in a hospital. Each survivor will decorate a patch in the quilt." \nTom Morse's involvement this year is more meaningful to him than it was in the past years, he said. \n"I have been involved with Relay before because my aunt died of cancer," he said, "But this time, it seems that much more important to me and shows that cancer can happen to anyone." \nIn order to prepare and focus on the mission of the event, as the fourth step, teams are required to call women older than 40 in their immediate circles to remind them to get the prescribed annual mammogram. \n"This furthers the mission of ACS," Cynthia Morse said. "We are also planning a field event to promote publicity and provide information regarding why we are doing this." \nCynthia Morse said groups like Straight No Chaser, Ladies First, Attica Smiles and other musical groups are scheduled to perform. Different vendors like Panera and Chipotle will provide free food for participants. \n"We are aiming for over 200 people consistently at the event with hopes for raising $80,000 net income," she said. "Though it is difficult to get anyone involved on a college campus, we are optimistic and are looking forward to providing the IU community with a greater awareness of the disease that effects almost everyone in the nation"