Nina Grenga and Brigid Burns
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y.- On April 13, the NU Against Cancer student group held their Relay For Life in the Kiernan Center. From 6 pm to 2 am, over one hundred students came to show their support and participate in the amazing activities. Relay for life is a community based event held by the American Cancer Society. This event came to be when Dr. Gordon Klatt ran and walked around a Washington track in 1985 for 24 hours, raising money for cancer.
To kick off the night, everyone walked a lap together around the track, with local survivors leading the way. Throughout the night, people could walk laps or visit the tables set up by different organizations on campus. All money raised through these tables went directly to the American Cancer Society. From frozen tee shirt contests to one big Zumba class, students had plenty of entertaining opportunities throughout the night.
The most sentimental moment of the event had to be the Luminaria Ceremony. The lights were turned off and one by one students were handed glow sticks to light in remembrance of loved ones. Once cracked, they were placed in tribute bags that were set up around the perimeter of the gym. After the glow sticks were all lit, everyone walked another lap while the Soar Throats Acapella group gave a beautiful rendition of the song “Hallelujah.”
Relay For Life is an inspiring event that brings the Niagara community, and communities everywhere together. It allows survivors, caregivers, and all those in support of the fight against cancer to join together as one and do their part in finding a cure.
To find out more information, or learn what you can do to help, visit www.cancer.org for more details.
Niagara Wire 