Schools

UMW Relay For Life Raises $63K and counting

Organizers battle rough, windy weather and last minute venue changes to hold second annual campus relay fundraiser.

In only its second year, the organizers of the University of Mary Washington's Relay For Life charity anti-cancer fundraiser were determined not to fall into a sophomore slump. By all indications yesterday, they succeeded. Battling common organizational difficulties and a last minute change of venue, the organizing committee behind the event had raised at least $63,000 when the relay began at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. That's almost double the $32,000 the UMW Relay raised last year. Even more money would be raised during the event as various teams sold baked goods and other trinkets for the cause. 

The event was larger than last year's, too. Almost 500 students, staff and other members of the public participated this year, an increase of about 150 over last year, said Luke Ruth, a junior computer science and psychology double major. Ruth was also the chair of the UMW Relay for Life organizing committee. He brought the event to UMW after transferring from Virginia Tech last year. 

"I saw the relay at Virginia Tech. It was moving, inspirational. The best night of they year," said Ruth. Disappointed that there was no Relay for Life at UMW, he decided to organize one. 

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Working with him is Laura Allan, a junior sociology major and event co-chair. 

"It's been a long time coming to get everything together," said Allan. 

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She and Ruth worked with a 25 person committee and the help of the American Cancer Society to organize the event. 

Earlier in the day they had to do some last minute shuffling around as concerns about the weather forced them to change locations from the Battleground Athletic Complex to the Great Hall. 

"It's kind of a different feel to have it right on campus," said Allan. "But it's going really well."

Relay for Life is one of American Cancer Society's largest and most prominent anti-cancer fundraisers in America. Money raised goes to fund cancer research, and the event itself helps to raise awareness of cancer in the community and celebrates the survivors of cancer. Teams at UMW began their relay at 3 p.m. on Saturday and continued walking until 3 a.m. Sunday morning. 


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