Relay for Life raises funds and awareness despite rain

Periodic rain showers couldn't dampen the spirit at Xavier's 9th annual Relay for Life event. 

One of the American Cancer Society's (ACS) Relay for Life events was held at Xavier University April 15th and 16th on the Greenspace.  

The 18 hour event, aimed at involving communities and raising research funds, ran from 3pm on Friday with a balloon release and will concluded 9am Saturday. Nathan Locklear, a Xavier Relay for Life tri-chair, explained the basic format that is seen at all Relay for Life events by saying, "There are several events including a Survivor Lap (honoring the survivors and their caregivers), a Luminaria ceremony in which we remember those we have lost to cancer, and a Fight Back ceremony in which we pledge to live healthy lives and reduce our chances of suffering from the disease." 

Paul Denning, coach of the Xavier Crew Club and cancer survivor, was the survivor speaker who spoke before the Survivor Lap. 

Denning has had cancer five times and as he puts it, "If I were a horse, they would have just shot me."  Denning has close ties to Xavier and provided his outlook on the disease and how Xavier students have positively impacted him.  "Cancer is the perfect excuse to get out of anything," Denning said.  "But it's all about what you finish." 

Present at the event were 19 guest survivors and 34 teams with 226 registered participants in all.  The 19 survivors were of all ages including Ella Wooten, age 70, who is graduating from Xavier this May. 

Ella, who had attended 4 other Relays, said that for her, Relay for Life "provided a picture of hope and proved that cancer is not a death sentence.  Participants spotted the Greenspace with many tents, games, and a food booth. 

Musical entertainment from a variety of Xavier students and local musicians was also provided throughout the event. 

Each team was required to have one member walking in the Relay at all times with the laps consisting of walking a circle around the Greenspace and Bellarmine chapel. 

The theme for this year's Relay for Life was "board games" with the slogan "Operation: Find a Cure."  

Fittingly, each lap of the race was given a corresponding name of a board game for reference purposes.  Some of the board game-themed events included cornhole, Pictionary, capture the flag, Mt. Dew pong, and a Twister competition. 

This year, the fundraising goal for Xavier's event is $46,000; the highest goal in the history of Xavier's event. Each team was asked to raise $1000 with each individual contributing at least $100. 

Last year $37,000 was raised but final fundraising totals are not yet available as the entirety of donations have not been collected.

According to the American Cancer Society website, Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked a track for 24 hours in order to raise money for the ACS.  Since then, Relay has grown to nearly 3.5 million participants in 20 different countries.

-David Maxwell