Relay For Life

This year, I was one of three event chairs for Mizzou’s Relay For Life benefiting American Cancer Society. I got involved on this committee freshman year of college, after participating in Relay For Life since freshman year of high school. Relay by definition is a 12-hour walk to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost and fight back against cancer. One of the most important things I’ve learned over the years is that Relay For Life is more than an event—it’s an experience. The experience of staying up all night to watch the various ceremonies, concerts and activities representing the cancer journey. Participating in the on-site fundraisers, bake sales and games to help reach monetary goals. Walking, talking and bonding with friends and classmates.

Working hard since last April to form a committee, solicit donations, spread the word and recruit survivors and participants, seeing Relay For Life come together alone has been an incredibly meaningful experience with the day of being another in my book. I have become acquainted with 50+ committee members who have shared my common goal of making Relay a success. I’ve overcome obstacles with the various challenges we were faced with throughout the planning stages. Most of all, I grew as a person and a leader helping to bring the whole thing together.

The 2012 Relay committee

Needless to say, Relay For Life ran very smoothly and we raised over $80,000 with 1,300 participants and over 80 teams. 

Opening Ceremonies at the Rec Center

Teams set up their campsites in Brewer, the back gyms of the Rec. Each team got really into its on-site fundraiser and raised over $12,000 the night of Relay. Bake sales, cupcakes, pushups, karaoke and tattoos galore- people always have very unique ways of raising money. 

Relay starts off with a ceremonial survivor lap- where participants cheer on cancer survivors as they kick off the night providing hope for curing cancer and fundraising for American Cancer Society.

The biggest ceremony is Luminaria around 9 p.m. Lit up candle/tea bags with the names of those who have fought, died from or survived cancer are purchased and line the track, and all of the names are read. It's a very emotional ceremony and a time for participants to commemorate friends and family members who have battled the disease. It was the best luminaria ceremony I've seen at a Relay and ran incredibly well.

Some of my friends joined a team called "Just one of Katie's many teams," and it was great to have them at Relay hanging out!

The event chairs- Charlie, Bret and I with Truman the Tiger, who came to break the world record for Most people dancing to "Don't Stop Believin'!" We have an awesome video of this happening and had over 200 people singing and dancing along. Bret, Charlie and I each oversaw five subcommittees to bring the event together. Congratulations guys!