Director of the Office of Special Programs and Cultural Series, Isis McCraw, leads the effort for the second annual American Cancer Association Relay for Life event at Prairie View A&M University.
Beginning Friday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. on the Blackshear Stadium field, Relay for Life is a 12 hour event that allows students and surrounding area citizens to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, raise money for research, and help provide services to cancer patients.
Last year, the event raised over $11,000 in profits for the American Cancer Association. With 30 teams, 253 participants and currently $7,199.69 in team donations, this year’s Relay for Life committee plans to meet or exceed last year profits.
Sigma Delta Pi is presently the leading online fundraising team with $605. Individual donor Daliana Rodriguez is currently the top participant with the highest individual donation of $445.
Because Relay for Life celebrates winning the fight against cancer, survivors can participate in the event for free, receive a free T-shirt and walk the opening lap called the inspirational Survivors Lap.
Alexa Lopez, Director of Public Relations on the Relay for Life committee, said, “Relay for Life brings a sense of togetherness to the campus. Any event that can bring over 30 organizations together in one place for 12 whole hours is a great social opportunity. It’s really something beautiful to see so many students really down for the cause.”
Some of the sponsors for this year’s event are Brubakers, Bless Beauty, Dominoes Pizza, Enterprise Car Rental, Lowe’s, Pepsi, Subway, Sodexo, and Wal-Mart.
During the event there will be several options of entertainment such as a scavenger hunt, a Zumba class instructed by this current year’s Miss PVAMU, Tiffany Ward, Relay Idol, and the Midnight Madness basketball tournament.
McCraw said, “It’s amazing to see the African American culture putting something together that promotes positivity. Usually we’re so hush hush about health issues but this is a good way to put it out there in the open and get everyone aware of this important matter.”
This year’s theme is “Why We Relay.” It encourages students to truly strive to understand exactly what it means to participate in Relay for Life and how it affects those who have had or currently have cancer.
Kedrienne Day, the direct American Cancer Association representative for Prairie View, said, “I began relaying in college with my sorority sisters. I also lost an uncle to cancer. It was so sudden and caught us all by surprise.”
Students can visit Relayforlife.org/pvamutx or tune in to KPVU at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 for more information.