On April 15, 2011, Frostburg State University came together and hosted the annual event “Relay for life”. The ceremony opened with acknowledgements and a few words from University President Dr. Gibralter. Holding true to its name, the event is held to raise awareness and money for cancer and cancer patients through walking laps, and other various fundraisers. Relay for life lasted 12 hours from 6 pm to 6 am the following day. The evening began with crisp cool weather conditions that later turned into raging wind in the evening. Nevertheless participants defied the weather and walked their laps.
Trailing around the track, one could smell refreshments and observe students interacting in different activities whether it was soccer, chatting, or playing on inflatables. Interestingly, around the track were many booths and tables set up by different organizations, clubs, and Greek society who were the providers to many of the activities and foods. Burg Peer Education, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Colleges Against Cancer are three groups participating in relay for life that helped explain different reasoning behind participating and supporting this charitable and sentimental event.
You may have one of their red cups or been to the many events they hold in a year which ranges from barbecues to mini competitions but it can’t be denied that Burg Peer Education Group is a well known organization on campus with a positive message. The Group supports healthy college living and avoiding bad decisions many college students are prone to make, such as irresponsible drinking. Thus, supporting Cancer awareness appears to fall in Burgs general spectrum.
Laura Fehle, a senior at Frostburg State University majoring in Music education and President of Burg gave more insight on the groups purpose, “ Burg really promotes healthy choices in every aspect. We have a lot of members that feel strongly about cancer and want to raise awareness. It’s all about taking care of yourself and others around you and this is a way to show that”.
Freshman Lauren VönSchermerhorn who majors in Biology and is from Bethesda Maryland is a member from Burg who explains how her passion for the relay stems from her experience with various family members who have dealt with cancer, “My Grandfather has cancer currently, my step grandmother is a cancer survivor, and my cousin unfortunately passed away from cancer so I do events like this for them.”
Burg helped raise money by selling different ribbons, charms and buttons that were in many colors and fun designs.
Like Burg, Alpha Sigma Alpha is a campus recognized group/sorority that also strived to help the relay. The ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha confidently walked the track on the windy day of the relay holding up a colorful banner that read, “There Are Many Different Faces Of Cancer”. Sorority members shared how eager they were to walk in memory of a member’s father who recently passed away from cancer.
Sara Vollmerhausen, a senior majoring in Education and member of Alpha Sigma Alpha showed individual reasoning for assisting the relay, “My Grandmother is currently fighting Colon Cancer so I’m in this to support her and everyone else who is going through difficult times". Bags of chips, soda, water, and cookies were a few of the snack items the sorority arranged for in order to help raise money.
Sophomore Amanda Wallace, who majors in Early Childhood talks about how her sorority and Greek life in general has supported cancer funding in events other than relay as well, “ We have fundraised throughout the year and during Greek Week. We participated in a fun game called “Cash Bash” where every group had a jar that money would go in to. Coins were positive points but dollars bills were negative points. It was fun and raised a bit of money.”
Among the countless Greek groups and school clubs who sponsored time and activities, there was the main group behind the event, Colleges Against Cancer (CAC). CAC members were wearing light blue shirts and ready to register relay participants. The group was responsible for organizing the majority of the event including the refreshments provided by Aramark and getting together the very noticeable and multicolored inflatables.
CAC member and Senior Rachael Hickman spoke about the goals of CAC and her personal struggle with cancer in her family, “Our main goal is to get the message out about cancer and the different services offered to patients. I also walk in honor and memory of my Aunt who passed away 14 years ago from cancer. Even though I was only 7, I still remember her and the times we had. So, this is like the only way I can do anything for her legacy and my Grandfathers who also passed away from Cancer and meant a lot to me”.
Patrick O’Brien who serves as the advisor to CAC enthusiastically expressed how far Relay for Life and CAC has come in representing Cancer awareness, “Relay started out small but has exponentially grown ever since then. In the first year we made about $12 to $13,000 but as of last night we made $250,000 in ten years. 4 years ago we made 25,000 then 35,000 the following year, and then 45,000 two years in a row. So the growth is massive. Also I’m happy to see that this year more than ever there is more of a variety in groups that are coming out to support what’s going on.”
Among these groups there were several other groups which assisted the relay throughout the night until 6 am and contributed to a harmonious and friendly atmosphere.
Trailing around the track, one could smell refreshments and observe students interacting in different activities whether it was soccer, chatting, or playing on inflatables. Interestingly, around the track were many booths and tables set up by different organizations, clubs, and Greek society who were the providers to many of the activities and foods. Burg Peer Education, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Colleges Against Cancer are three groups participating in relay for life that helped explain different reasoning behind participating and supporting this charitable and sentimental event.
You may have one of their red cups or been to the many events they hold in a year which ranges from barbecues to mini competitions but it can’t be denied that Burg Peer Education Group is a well known organization on campus with a positive message. The Group supports healthy college living and avoiding bad decisions many college students are prone to make, such as irresponsible drinking. Thus, supporting Cancer awareness appears to fall in Burgs general spectrum.
Laura Fehle, a senior at Frostburg State University majoring in Music education and President of Burg gave more insight on the groups purpose, “ Burg really promotes healthy choices in every aspect. We have a lot of members that feel strongly about cancer and want to raise awareness. It’s all about taking care of yourself and others around you and this is a way to show that”.
Freshman Lauren VönSchermerhorn who majors in Biology and is from Bethesda Maryland is a member from Burg who explains how her passion for the relay stems from her experience with various family members who have dealt with cancer, “My Grandfather has cancer currently, my step grandmother is a cancer survivor, and my cousin unfortunately passed away from cancer so I do events like this for them.”
Burg helped raise money by selling different ribbons, charms and buttons that were in many colors and fun designs.
Like Burg, Alpha Sigma Alpha is a campus recognized group/sorority that also strived to help the relay. The ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha confidently walked the track on the windy day of the relay holding up a colorful banner that read, “There Are Many Different Faces Of Cancer”. Sorority members shared how eager they were to walk in memory of a member’s father who recently passed away from cancer.
Sara Vollmerhausen, a senior majoring in Education and member of Alpha Sigma Alpha showed individual reasoning for assisting the relay, “My Grandmother is currently fighting Colon Cancer so I’m in this to support her and everyone else who is going through difficult times". Bags of chips, soda, water, and cookies were a few of the snack items the sorority arranged for in order to help raise money.
Sophomore Amanda Wallace, who majors in Early Childhood talks about how her sorority and Greek life in general has supported cancer funding in events other than relay as well, “ We have fundraised throughout the year and during Greek Week. We participated in a fun game called “Cash Bash” where every group had a jar that money would go in to. Coins were positive points but dollars bills were negative points. It was fun and raised a bit of money.”
Among the countless Greek groups and school clubs who sponsored time and activities, there was the main group behind the event, Colleges Against Cancer (CAC). CAC members were wearing light blue shirts and ready to register relay participants. The group was responsible for organizing the majority of the event including the refreshments provided by Aramark and getting together the very noticeable and multicolored inflatables.
CAC member and Senior Rachael Hickman spoke about the goals of CAC and her personal struggle with cancer in her family, “Our main goal is to get the message out about cancer and the different services offered to patients. I also walk in honor and memory of my Aunt who passed away 14 years ago from cancer. Even though I was only 7, I still remember her and the times we had. So, this is like the only way I can do anything for her legacy and my Grandfathers who also passed away from Cancer and meant a lot to me”.
Patrick O’Brien who serves as the advisor to CAC enthusiastically expressed how far Relay for Life and CAC has come in representing Cancer awareness, “Relay started out small but has exponentially grown ever since then. In the first year we made about $12 to $13,000 but as of last night we made $250,000 in ten years. 4 years ago we made 25,000 then 35,000 the following year, and then 45,000 two years in a row. So the growth is massive. Also I’m happy to see that this year more than ever there is more of a variety in groups that are coming out to support what’s going on.”
Among these groups there were several other groups which assisted the relay throughout the night until 6 am and contributed to a harmonious and friendly atmosphere.
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