Kissing booth anyone?

By: Madison Martin

Every year, during the spring semester, Frostburg State University hosts the Relay for Life event. Relay for Life is an event that benefits the American Cancer Society. Relay began in 1985 when a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, Dr. Gordy Klatt, ran, and walked, around a track for 24 hours straight, to raise donations for the American Cancer Society. Klatt’s passion began an event that is now known as the largest fundraiser to support the battle against cancer.

Frostburg State University always sets high goals when it comes to their Relay for Life. Each year, Frostburg tries to raise more money than the previous year. Frostburg also tries to raise more money than Salisbury University, one of Frostburg’s biggest rivals. Frostburg’s goal for 2011 was to raise over 54,000 dollars for the American Cancer Society. The event takes place at the Frostburg Football Stadium. This year it began at 6 P.M. Friday, April 15, and ended Saturday morning at 6 A.M.

Many attended Relay for Life at Frostburg State University. From a distance, the track appeared as if it had transformed itself into a camp site. Tents lined the perimeter of the track, as participants walked the track and set up games. There were a variety of participants, ranging from professors to on campus organizations and students.

Latin American Student Organization was one of the many groups from Frostburg State University that participated in Friday night’s Relay for Life. This organization, by Friday night, had raised roughly 140 dollars. L.A.S.O. member Jen Cruz said, “Tonight you can donate a dollar to play our game! All you have to do is throw a ping pong ball into one of the water cups and you win a fish!” There was a long table, with the cups on the end. Cruz also stated, “If the game is not your type of thing, then we have goodie bags!” L.A.S.O. was taking donations for the goody bags and for the game. The organization was donating all of the money that they made that evening to the American Cancer Society.

Some students had a unique approach for raising money to benefit the American Cancer Society. Frank Taylor, a student at Frostburg State University, made a portable kissing booth. Taylor had attached a cardboard box around his waist. Attached to the box were two poles that held a sign that read, “Kissing Booth 25 cents.” Taylor held, in his hand, a cup that, at that time, had four quarters in it. When asked if he actually gave four kisses to people Taylor said, “I can’t reveal my sources!” Taylor also confessed that he thought this method was a fun twist on how to raise money.