Participants in Boston University’s Relay for Life gave up sleep and comfortable feet to lend their support to the fight against cancer.
Members of the BU community helped fundraise for the American Cancer Society one lap at a time at the Track and Tennis Center on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Over 1,200 people gathered in teams of friends, family members and co-workers to both remember loved ones who fought cancer and raise money.
“Relay is an overnight party that unites the BU community under one roof, for one night, supporting one cause,” said College of Arts and Sciences junior Alan Hoang, the president of Colleges Against Cancer and co-chair of the Relay For Life of BU Planning Committee.
The relay kicked off with an a cappella performance by the Dear Abbeys, followed by speeches by Assistant Dean of Students David Zamojski and psychology professor Trudi Feinstein.
Next, participants walked around the track with cancer survivors for the “survivors lap” in the “celebrate” portion of the fundraiser.
They then honored loved ones with lit candles inside bags filled with sand and the name of the person who had cancer in the “The Luminaria Ceremony.”
CAS freshman Lily Anton, who is on the Relay for Life committee, said for her, this was the most memorable part of the relay.
“It was the part that touched me the most,” she said. “Usually I’m bawling by the end of it. It’s the time where I most appreciate why we are here.”
Anton said she participated in Relay all four years of high school because she knows many people affected by cancer.
“It’s a great way to raise money for such a prevalent disease,” she said. “And it’s a lot of fun.”
School of Management freshman Raymond Chen, a member of Colleges Against Cancer, said the organization held bake sales and other fundraisers throughout the year to make the Relay for Life possible.
“I think it’s a good event because it raises awareness and gets everyone together to support the same cause,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun and there’s always a bunch of people.”
Relay for Life committee member and CAS senior Samantha Smith said the fundraiser is important because it’s a “great cause and a great time.”
“I have quite a few relatives who have passed away from cancer, so it’s really important to me,” she said. “There really isn’t any other experience quite like it.”
At 6 a.m., the organizers announced that the participants had raised over $100,000 in the 12-hour time period.
Staff writer Chelsea Feinstein contributed to the reporting of this article.
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