After a night of carnival games, a silent auction and other ceremonies to honor those who have been impacted by cancer, the school raised $75,120 at its annual Relay for Life Fundraiser on Saturday, March 28.
Relay for Life is an event where students can join teams to hold games and activities to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event is open to the public from 5-9, and students were given the opportunity to stay till 4 a.m. if they raised $100 or more.
The students who participate and run the event each do it for different reasons, like junior Hadly Doyle, who served as a chair this year.
“I’ve always gone to Relay ever since it started because of my siblings. But, more recently, I’ve participated in Relay for McKenna Royer,” Doyle said. “By seeing how impacted my friend Avery [Royer] is, and just like all the good that can come from Relay for Life, and the work that ACS puts in, it makes me continue to Relay.
Elin Diskin, who was a part of the Event Leadership Team (ELT), shares why she participates and got involved in Relay for Life.
“I Relay for my grandma, and everyone else who has or had cancer,” Diskin said. “I wanted to get involved so I could meet new people and be a part of something that can make a difference.”
Kirsten Jones, who is the teacher sponsor for Relay for Life, shares why she loves Relay.
“I think it’s such a fun tradition, and I love seeing the students work so hard on something that has so much meaning,” Jones said. “One of my favorite parts of Relay, specifically the night of, I love the survivor lap. It’s just a good grounding moment for why we do what we do.
Throughout the night of Relay, along with the games and activities, there’s also a silent auction. The silent auction is where people can bid on certain items to win, and the money also goes towards the American Cancer Society.
The school also holds a Luminaria Ceremony. The ceremony was held in the PAC, and it contained decorated paper bags to honor those who had survived or lost their lives to cancer. During the ceremony, the bags are lit up so people can look at them as they walk through.
Sophomore Maddy Specker shares her experience with the Luminarias.
“I enjoyed the Luminaria Ceremony that Relay held, especially how the ceremony honors all of the different people who have been affected by cancer,” Specker said. “This year I bought a Luminaria to honor my grandpa. It was special to see my grandpa be included along with the other Luminarias.”
