Relay for Life offers hope for those affected by cancer
For some University of South Dakota students, the fight against cancer is personal.
Junior Emily Jansen is part of the Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) organization on campus and is volunteering her time to help organize the annual Relay for Life event coming up Feb. 22.
“I’m really, really passionate about the American Cancer Society (ACS) and fighting back against cancer,” Jansen said. “I have lost three grandparents to cancer. My grandma was diagnosed in May, and she passed away two weeks later.”
Since her family has been affected by the disease several times, it is easy to see why she was motivated to become president of CAC, which organizes the ACS event.
“It’s absolutely inspiring,” Jansen said.
The event, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the DakotaDome, is free, but donating $10 will get attendees a t-shirt.
Those interested in signing up for the event can check out the Relay for Life table in the Muenster University Center during the week of Feb. 16-20 and register. People can also register the day of the event from noon to 1 p.m.
Relay for Life has been held in Vermillion since the early 2000s. Starting in 2008, USD students began taking on the role of planning the event for the community.
The theme for the walk this year is the Olympics, and participants can expect fun activities like a photobooth, Olympic-themed games and face painting.
Another special activity the CAC’s Relay for Life executive team is promoting is called Cream Cancer, where members of the community and students at USD will raise money by getting pied in the face.
“It’s a huge fundraiser where people come together to walk, raise money, play games and support those survivors who have had cancer and those who have cancer right now,” Jansen said. “We honor those who have passed away due to cancer, and we also really honor the caretakers who are with the patients throughout the whole process.”
Jansen said luminaries are available to purchase for $5, which can be decorated in honor of past and present cancer patients. The luminaries will be set up around the track, which participants will be walking past during the whole event.
“We are constantly circling the people that we’re there for, that we love, that we’re trying to raise money for,” Jansen said.
[notification type=”grey” title=”Relay for Life itinerary”]Schedule: Registration 12:00-1:00 1:00 – Opening Ceremony, speeches, and survivor lap 1:30 – USD Dance Team performance 2:00-3:00 – A kicking cancer activity with members of the USD Soccer team 3:00 – Cream Cancer activity 3:30-4:00 – Lightening Tournaments 4:00 – Luminary ceremony 4:45 – Balloon release, end of event Throughout the day: 1. Coloring station 2. Face painting station 3. Free will donation ice cream sundaes 4. Walking 5. DJ playing 6. Photo booth 7. Luminary sales 8. Four square area[/notification]
ACS employee Rebecca Giddens helps students at USD prepare for the upcoming event.
She said all the funds raised from the event go toward cancer research for medicines and chemotherapy, as well as free services for cancer patients.
“It goes toward funding our services like Hope Lodge, which is a place for cancer patients to stay while they’re getting treatment away from home,” Giddens said. “We have Road to Recovery, which is basically volunteers sign up to drive patients to their treatment if they can’t drive themselves.”
The organization also focuses on using the money for education and prevention efforts for current diagnoses and future diagnoses, as well as advocacy to make cancer a priority in the nation.
“While the money may not stay local in the sense where we’re giving money to USD, it stays local in the fact that someone you know could benefit from our services by getting a ride to treatment,” Giddens said. “We raise everywhere so that we can use it where it is needed most.”
Jansen said last year the event raised $10,000 for ACS. She said she wants CAC to focus on raising money again this year, but is not necessarily concerned with how much is raised.
“We decided not to set a goal,” Jansen said. “I personally feel like all money for the American Cancer Society is great money. I do not want us to set a goal and not make it, because I don’t want us to be disappointed. I want us to be proud of all the money that we have raised and that the community has raised.”
Sophomore Taylor Hackett, who is part of the executive team, also understands the importance of Relay for Life.
“There’s always new ways to find research to help find the cure since there isn’t a cure at all,” Hackett said.
Cancer has also touched her life. Her little brother’s friend was diagnosed with cancer when he was only 8 years old. She said now he is in remission and living a normal life.
“Never stop finishing the fight,” Hackett said. “There’s always more you can do to help this cause and fight back against cancer.”
The passion all three women demonstrate for the cause is apparent to those who speak with them.
“I think everyone in some way is affected by cancer. I think that’s terrible. I hate cancer and I hate what it does to people and I hate what it does to families,” Jansen said.
This will be Jansen’s third year being a part of the event, and reminiscing on the impact almost brings tears to her eyes.
“It is such a bittersweet event because you see the hurt in people’s eyes, but you see the hope in it too,” Jansen said.
Jansen said she’s humbled to have the opportunity to work with the executive team toward ending cancer and making a difference in the Vermillion and Clay County area.
“We’re done with cancer,” Jansen said. “We’re fighting back, we’re pushing back and we’re doing it together.”
(Photo: Relay for Life participants walk around the track in the DakotaDome Feb. 23, 2014. The annual Colleges Against Cancer event raises money for cancer research. File photo / The Volante)
