Fall 2016

Relay For Life

University of Maryland
We will continue fighting back u ntil we find a CURE.

Meet a Director

Relay For Life has
positively impacted the lives of
hundreds of thousands of families
throughout the United States. At
the University of Maryland, the
cure is brought home to survivors
as they band together at Ludwig
Field every spring.

When I came to UMD,
I was like any eager freshman.
I was excited to be involved
within my major, my college, and
through other university-wide
clubs, Meghan Mahoney, junior
government and politics major,
said.

Mahoney
has
since
become a co-director for the 2016
Relay club at the UMD. Having
the opportunity to lead the event
that has made such a difference
in my life is truly a blessing and
I just hopes to inspire someone,
the same way I was two years ago,
Mahoney said.

Through Relay survivors
continue to celebrate their
victories,
remember
their

significant
moments
and
memories made with their family,
and continue to fight back as
they continue to help raise funds
through our organization.

As I listen to the stories,
the memories, from families
affected by cancer, I realize how
much of a difference Relay for Life
makes not just in our community
but for the entire nation, said
Mahoney.

Relay allows people to feel
like they are making a tangible
difference not only in their
community but across the nation.
It is important to have something
in your life that makes you feel
like you are truly helping.This
year, we walked by the light of
those gone too soon and we are
driven to change as our survivors
stare their diagnosis head on.
I encourage UMD and the
surrounding community to join
us next year in our continuous
fight against cancer, Mahoney
said.

Spring 2016 Relay participants listen to one of the many survivor stories told.
Photo credit: Chelsea Johnson, Senior, Relay Executive Member

Mahoney, center, inspiring hope with the other two co-directors.

Photo credit: Jenn Kerr, Sophomore, Relay Participant

In this issue
Meet a Director
Relay Recap: 2016
Relay at a Glance
Fast Facts
How to Signup & Donate
Get Involved!

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2
3
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Students donate a
chunk of hair that will
be made into wig for
cancer pacients who
have lost theirs.
Photo credit: Chelsea
Johnson, Senior, Relay
Executive Member

Kicking off Relay

for Life 2016 with a
Survivors Lap.
Photo credit: Meghan
Mahoney

Spring 2016 Relay participants listen to one of the

many survivor stories told.
Photo credit: Jordyn Levine

relay Recap: 2016

Relay for Life
at the University of
Maryland kicked
off on Saturday, April 16 at Ludwig Field.
Cancer does not discriminate - it affects
everyone. Because of this, the fight
against cancer has the power to bring
people of diverse backgrounds together.
This was prevalent as our university
community united to end cancer in their
annual Relay for Life.

Relay is much more than
a fundraiser; it also included the
commemorative Luminaria Ceremony,
not to mention some awesome
performances and games. The relay is
simultaneously a fight against cancer,
a memorial for those whose lives the
disease has claimed and a celebration of
life.

This years event had more than
80 teams and 650 participants raising a
little more than $53,000. The theme of

the night was Candy Land to help find

the inner child in all of us, Mahoney
said.

Many student run dance teams
performed this year such as Revolutions
Dance Ensemble. The student president
of the ensemble Caroline Dato,
sophomore psychology major, said, I
love that we were able to be apart of
this amazing event. It is a great way to
combine my love of dance with my love
of giving back to the community.

Other events included zorb
soccer, relay races, talent shows and even
a tater tot eating contest. Zorb soccer, a
sport that came to the U.S. 2014, involves
players encased in a plastic bubble
covering their upper bodies. Events like
these helped to keep students and other
members of the crowd entertained.

Also for the first time, students
were able to donate a lock of hair that
would later be made into a wig. This

shows great support to the cancer

community because many people
lose their hair when going through
chemotherapy.
Jenna
Caraher,
freshman
kinesiology major, said, This was my
first time attending a Relay for Life event,
but it was inspiring and life-changing. I
will definitely be back next year.

The executive teams goal to keep
the participants engaged and excited
throughout the event was a success. The
amount of people starting out at the
event did not diminish as the night went
on, actually more people came!

As the night came to a close,
many people left with smiling faces
and wanting to continue to help for the
following year.

The goal is not just to raise
money, but to change lives, Mahoney
said. That is what makes a difference
and what truly helps the cause.

Relay at a glance

One person can make a difference.
Nowhere is that more evident, than with
the story of the American Cancer Society
Relay For Life, which began in Tacoma,
Washington, as the City of Destiny
Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.

The American Cancer Society
Relay For Life is an event that gives
everyone in communities across the globe
a chance to celebrate the lives of people
who have battled cancer, remember
loved ones lost and fight back against
the disease. At Relay, teams of people
camp out at a local high school, park or
fairground and take turns walking or
running around a track or path. Each
team is asked to have a representative on
the track at all times during the event.
Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are
overnight events up to 24 hours.

Relay starts with a Survivors Lap
an inspirational time when survivors are
invited to circle the track together and
help everyone celebrate the victories
achieved over cancer. The Survivors Lap

is an emotional example of how Relay

participants are ensuring that more lives
are saved each year like those of each
individual on the track.

Caregivers are also recognized
and celebrated at Relay For Life. These
individuals give their time, love, and
support to friends, family, neighbors,
and coworkers who face cancer. People
understand the frustrations and joys of
being a caregiver, the effects of cancer
reach far beyond the person diagnosed,
Morgan Jaffe said at this years UMD
Relay.

After dark the Luminaria
Ceremony, honors people who have been
touched by cancer and remembers loved
ones lost to the disease. Candles are lit
inside bags filled with sand, each one
bearing the name of a person touched
by cancer, and participants often walk
a lap in silence. As people take time
to remember, those who have walked
alongside others battling cancer can
grieve and find healing.

Lastly, there is a Fight Back
Ceremony, where participants make
a personal commitment to save lives
by taking up the fight against cancer.
That personal commitment may be
to do something as simple as getting
a screening test, quitting smoking or
talking to elected officials about cancer.
By taking action, people are personally
taking steps to save lives and fight back
against a disease. Everyones reason to
Relay is as unique as their own personal
story. At Relay, you can find healing,
comfort and support from others who
have faced cancer or who have lost a
loved one to the disease, Jaffe said.

You have a chance to meet people
in the community who are equally as
passionate about finding an end to cancer.
You can thank all the people who have
done so much to support you through
your personal cancer experience. And
you can gather together with friends,
family, and colleagues to laugh, cry and
create lasting memories.

Fast Facts

In May 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran
for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington,
ultimately raising $27,000 to help the American
Cancer Society fight the nations biggest health
concern - cancer. A year later, 340 supporters joined
the overnight event.

Relay is about much more than finding a
cure for cancer. The American Cancer Society uses
the proceeds to fund research for a cure, but it also
runs programs to drive cancer patients to treatment,
house patients and their families during treatment and
provide everyone with information about cancer.

This nationwide
event has raised nearly $5
billion in fundraising. In
addition, the American
Cancer Society licenses 20
cancer organizations that
hold Relay For Life events
to battle cancer across the
globe.

Relay For Life

University of Maryland
Get Involved

Come out to the First Look Fair on
McKeldin Mall to start getting involved in
UMDs Relay for Life. Events are all year long
and it is a great opportunity to meet new people
and gain valuable leadership and community
service experience. Dont have any connection, it
doesnt matter as long as you are willing to make a
difference!

Even if you have no time to volunteer,
signup and start raising money to participate in
the 2017 Relay event. Its easy to become a part
of the Relay For Life movement and help finish
the fight against cancer. Thanks to the support of
student volunteers at Relay For Life events, the
American Cancer Society is helping to save more
than 500 lives from cancer every day.

All you need to do is sign up to participate
or volunteer at your local Relay For Life event.
There is an event offered that everyone in the
community will enjoy. By offering more events,
more communities are able to fight back against
cancer. Visit Relay For Lifes website to find events
available, and then search to see which ones are
offered near you.

For any questions, email relayUMD@
gmail.com. Relay for Life at UMD welcomes
anyone wanting to participate in the 2017 Relay
event!