After months of planning, Relay for Life hosted its annual Bark for Life event Saturday, Oct. 15. The event was held in front of Monticello Trails Middle School. The money raised during the event goes toward their Relay for Life event total in April 2024.
Junior Elly Hayes, one of the four chair members of the Relay for Life committee, talks about what went into planning the event.
“The other chairs along with [Relay for Life sponsor Kristen] Jones and I planned a couple of months in advance for Bark,” Hayes said. “We planned what events we wanted to hold and all of the fun events we thought the dogs would like.”
Looking back, senior Meron Abebe explains her favorite and least favorite parts of the event.
“This year I was a part of the Polaroid booth. I loved getting to see all the dogs complete the obstacle courses. I also loved to see them all dressed up in their costumes,” Abebe said. “The only bad thing about Bark for Life this year was the weather. It was cold, dreary, and a little rainy.
Hayes recommends that everyone attends the event next year.
“I definitely recommend people to go to Bark in the future,” Hayes said. “It’s Relay for Life’s biggest fundraiser we hold before the actual event and really helps us raise a good amount of money to go to the American Cancer Society at the end of the year.”
Overall, Abebe reflects on why she attended the event.
“I attended Bark for Life because I am passionate about raising money for cancer research and being with a group of students who are equally as passionate about the cause,” Abebe said. “I think it is so important to be involved in things that benefit the community as a whole.
