Laughter is often said to be the best medicine. Cheerful faces, albeit combating a serious issue like cancer, made this year’s Relay for Life stand out from other charity events.
All along the walk, statistics founded by the American Cancer Society were posted. Statistics like, “27 percent of children start smoking by the time they leave high school,” give many food for thought.
Relay for Life has been a tradition at the University for three years — each year offering something a little different. Chasta Hamilton, a junior in arts applications and political science and 2006 Relay for Life event chair, said this year’s theme was internationalism.
“Our slogan this year is, ‘One world, one hope, one cure,'” she said.
Hamilton, together with five other Parks Scholars, helped found the Relay for Life tradition at the University.
This year’s relay was held at CASL soccer fields, where campsites were set up by volunteers to raise money for a common goal: to fight cancer.
Cara Graham, a sophomore in biological sciences and member of the pre-health club team, set the club’s tent to represent the Caribbean.
“We’re telling cancer to walk the plank,” Graham said.
In honor of their Caribbean theme, members of the pre-health club sold baked goods, held a raffle to guess the number of gold coins in a jar and dressed up like pirates.
Laura Martin, together with CERES, an agriculture sorority, set up a beach-themed tent.
“We’re selling [cola] floats and root beer floats,” Martin, a sophomore in agriculture extension, said.
According to Martin, CERES has participated in Relay for Life since the fraternity was founded in 1997.
Dessari Burton, an ovarian cancer survivor, set up a Las Vegas Nights campsite with family and friends. Burton and her team arranged their campsite for participants and volunteers to play Texas Holdem and raised over $1,000.
Renee Larson, a member of the team CANSURVIVE, and her team raised the most money prior to the event. The 16 members of CANSURVIVE have been participating in Relay for Life for three years.
“We have three survivors on our team and we’ve raised over $12,000,” Larson said.
Amanda Wolfe, a sophomore in chemistry and member of the Sullivan Superheroes, and her team of RAs and RDs raised over $2,000.
“We’re the only RA staff out here,” Wolfe said, “which is what makes us unique from everyone else.”
Jaclyn Sappah, a sophomore in psychology, started her own Dream Walkin’ team and raised around $1,300. Sappah’s grandmother is a cancer survivor, so the cause is close to her heart, and she said she believes in everything for which Relay for Life stands.
“It’s all for a really good cause,” she said.
Justin LeBlanc, a sophomore in architecture, set up a Candyland campsite with his group, the Caldwell Fellows.
“This is our second year participating in Relay,” LeBlanc said. “We have raised over $200.”
Seth Styers, a junior in English and member of Anno Domini, a Christian acapella group that performed at Relay this year, said the event was encouraging.
“It’s so nice to see groups from NCSU and the community together fighting for such a good cause,” Styers said.
Laura Wickwar, a breast cancer survivor, has participated in Relay for the past 10 years. Wickwar is an alumna of NCSU and graduated in 1998 with a master’s in education.
“For me, what makes the Relay at N.C. State so special is the survivor lap — and the fact that it’s done by students,” Wickwar said. “The community does a Relay event too, but this one is handled entirely by students, which is why I come.”