Clark’s 5th Annual Relay for Life Racing Toward a Cure

Friday, March 01, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Clark University will partner with the American Cancer Society to host its 5th annual Relay for Life event from 6 p.m. on Friday, April 19, to 10 a.m. on Sat., April 20. This year’s event will be held in the Kneller Athletic Center. The organizers of Clark’s Relay for Life hope to register 30 teams and have a fundraising goal of $30,000. The public is welcome to participate in the event.

Past Relay events have raised a total of over $100,000; the event typically brings close to 300 participants to campus each year. The Relay started in Tacoma, Washington in 1985, and has since spread to more than 5,200 communities in 21 countries, and all told has raised over $5 billion total. It is the largest cancer fundraiser in the world.

Rachel Monge, a Clark senior and one of the three chairs of Clark's Relay for Life, speaks of the origins of the event at Clark.

“Before our Relay even started at Clark, two students; Cassandra McCann and Emily Corbett went to WPI to participate in their Relay. After seeing their event, they had decided that they wanted to start it on our campus. Five years ago now, a group of dedicated Clarkies came together to create club for Relay For Life at Clark. The group consisted of students who had personally been affected by cancer (through family, friends or themselves) or simply wanted to fight back against the disease," she says.

The Survivor Reception and Opening Ceremonies officially start the Relay where Clark students/event Tri-Chairs Rose Kamsler, Rachel Monge and Breeann Redman will address the participants. This will be followed by the Survivor Lap where cancer survivors and their caregivers will lead the walkers around a designated track.

The Luminaria Ceremony follows where family, friends, Clark and Worcester community members can remember those who have lost their lives to cancer and honor survivors and those currently fighting the disease. White paper bags will line the paths; each bag will bear the name of a loved one, and remind participants of the reasons to Relay. Luminaria may be purchased for $5 prior to, or at the event.

The Fight Back Ceremony will take place at 7:30 am, and the closing ceremony will soon follow.

Music, food, movies and Guitar Hero will be provided; student groups will perform throughout the night.

Clark senior Ellen Davis, a member of the Relay committee e-board, told Clark University’s student newspaper, that “everyone who comes to relay has a reason for being there…it is a really nice bonding experience.”

"Cancer is something that affects so many people across our Univeristy, the country and the world. Personally, I think that Relay is so important to Clark. So many faculty and staff have had cancer or know people who have had cancer. The students continuously come and tell me about their stories of family and friends. This event is a great way for people to gain a sense of community and know that no one is alone,” says Monge.

To help meet fundraising goals and raise awareness of the event on campus, the organizers are currently selling “Save the Cougars” or “Can You Last All Night?” tee shirts in the Higgins University Center and at Clark University sporting events for $8 throughout the rest of the year. They are also arranging distribution of Glen Cocoa Grams (chocolate deliveries accompanied by a sassy or sweet quote).

The group has created videos for the event. “Why We Relay” features three Clark University students who are also cancer survivors; another is themed, “What Makes You Smile.”

Registration for Relay is required. It currently costs $5; the price of participation increases to $10 and then $15 mid-April.

To register, or for more information, visit relayforlife.org or visit the Clark University Relay for Life Facebook page.