Relay for Life looking for volunteers, teams

IU's Relay For Life is looking for volunteers and team members to participate in its annual walk against cancer this spring. \nThe group will be hosting a call-out meeting at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Woodburn Hall, room 120, to discuss team development and volunteer opportunities for the fourth annual IU Relay For Life, a fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. \nThis year's Relay is still in the early stages of planning, and no specifics have been set, said senior Cindy Morse, president of the IU Relay For Life. The group is planning to host the event inside and is trying to increase the number of interactive team events, she said. The tentative date for the event is the weekend of March 31 through April 1, 2007. \nThe group has set many goals for this year's Relay, including having at least 60 teams and 45 cancer survivors involved in the event, as well plans to raise between $75,000 to $80,000, said senior Milissa Eley. Last year's Relay raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society, according to the organization's Web site.\n"We also hope to do more community outreach events to advocate cancer prevention and educate the student body on all cancers and their risks," Morse said. \nThe Relay is about more than just raising money for the American Cancer Society, Eley said. \n"This event allows students to interact will survivors, individuals currently battling and those who have lost loved ones to cancer," said Eley. "Relay for Life is an event where individuals can celebrate and honor the lives of cancer patients." \nBoth Morse and Eley said the Relay is an event everyone should attend because cancer affects so many people. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and all proceeds from the Relay go to the American Cancer Society, who in turn uses the money for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services, Morse said. \n"Relay is a way for those who have lost the ones they love or watched the battle or been in the battle themselves to do something," Eley said. \nStudents can volunteer by starting a team to participate in activities at the event, raising funds, or event planning. \nRelay for Life is an overnight event in which members from various teams walk or run laps to raise money for cancer research. The event is called a relay because members take turns running laps and at least one member from each team should be walking or running at all times, according to the American Cancer Society's Web site. \nMorse and Eley said anyone that would like to learn more can attend the call-out meeting Wednesday or e-mail camorse@indiana.edu or maeley@indiana.edu.