Walkers Can Join The Fight Against Cancer With UC's Relay For Life

The University of Cincinnati joins the largest fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society when teams from UC and the community take part in the Relay for Life. Signups for volunteers are underway for the fundraiser that begins at 6 p.m. Friday, April 18 and runs until noon Saturday, April 19, at Sigma Sigma Commons. Cancer survivors will kick off the relay with the very first victory lap.

Through those 18 hours, the teams will take turns walking or running laps on Sigma Sigma Commons. At least one team member will be on the walkway during the entire event.

Signups are now underway for teams of 8-15 people. Each member is asked to raise $100 for the relay that not only contributes money toward the fight against cancer, but also raises awareness and celebrates the victories of those who have survived. The UC student-organized Relay for Life has set the goal of raising $25,000 to go to the American Cancer Society.

A powerful tribute during the UC Relay for Life will take place at 9 p.m. on April 18, during a luminary ceremony. Through the evening, volunteers will be selling paper bags that hold a candle. Each bag will be adorned with the name of a loved one who has fought cancer. The luminaries will be lighted at 9 p.m. and placed around the track to symbolize lighting the way for hope in the future battle against cancer.

Cancer survivors interested in walking the victory lap are asked to pre-register, so they can receive a special Relay for Life T-shirt. Luminaries can also be pre-ordered through the UC Center for Community Engagement Web site, at www.cce.uc.edu

For those who are interested in organizing a relay team or joining a relay team for UC's Relay for Life, contact the American Cancer Society at (513) 891-1600, or team packets for registration are also available at the UC Center for Community Engagement at (513) 556-1559.

UC student organizers are seeking sponsors as well as local entertainment for the event. To find out more on how to get involved, contact the UC Center for Community Engagement.

Since it first began in 1985, 3,000 communities around the world have joined the Relay for Life.