Brian Caffarel
Would you like a cure for cancer with that hot dog? At Relay For Life on Friday, more than 60 organizations set up booths and events, such as Guitar Hero tournaments, aimed to do just that.
At Phi Sigma Pi’s table, where they served “tailgating food,” a hot dog would put $2 toward the American Cancer Society — chips, water and apples would donate $1.
So for $4, each of the more than 1,000 Relay for Life participants could purchase both dinner and a portion of the expenses that go toward finding a cure for cancer.
But they didn’t stop there.
The event raised more than $42,000, an increase of $5,000 from last year’s Relay, according to Carla Ammons, event chair.
Ammons, a senior in criminology, said getting involved in events like Relay For Life is not just a way for students to support others who have cancer. Since statistics show one in three people will get a form of cancer, she said, it’s imperative for people to support research that will protect themselves.
“If you look to your right and you look to your left, chances are one of you will be diagnosed with cancer in your lifetime,” she said. “Since the statistics are so staggering, we need to do something now to fight cancer down the road.”
Participating in American Cancer Society fundraisers that support research, advocacy and cancer support programs, she said, is a start.
Ammons said this year’s Relay For Life, which moved back on campus after a three years in another location, served to trigger awareness for future years’ events. She expects next year’s turnout to rise greatly, a fact that will aid in turning Relay For Life into a campus tradition.
“We reached our main goals that we set for this year,” Ammons said. “We wanted students to be active the whole night. We wanted to cause a stir around campus so people would come back next year. … We’re planning on holding Relay For Life at Derr Track to accommodate the growth that we see for next year.”
On-site activities such as a giant-sized Twister, energy drink pong, water balloon launching contests and soccer tournaments “had people up and active at four in the morning, just like it was 10 p.m.,” Ammons said.
And for Adam Berry, a junior in electrical engineering, these activities served their purpose.
Berry stayed at Lee Field for more than 16 hours — six of which were spent walking around the field to keep his team, Phi Sigma Pi, eligible to complete the Relay.
Besides the “obvious benefit for cancer research,” Berry said the 16 hours allowed him time to get to know other people in his fraternity.
Campus Crusade for Christ was among the campus organizations present, and raised about $500 by selling hamburgers and hot dogs, Michael Underwood, the team’s co-leader, said.
“Everybody was out there supporting the American Cancer Society,” Underwood, a freshman in engineering, said. His group, he said, had about 30 people show up on and off starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Both Berry and Underwood said they plan on returning to next year’s Relay for Life.
Want to get involved?
Relay For Life of NCSU has until Aug. 1 to raise their goal of $100,000. Donate to the American Cancer Society through N.C. State.
To get involved next year, the organization is holding an informational meeting this Thursday at 8 p.m. in Daniels Hall. They are looking for team leaders and members.
Source: Carla Ammons, event chair