Relay for Life involved in a relay of helping hands
As spring has arrived, many GCSU campus organizations and community members have been busy organizing this year’s Relay For Life fundraisers.
Sigma Alpha Omega (SAO), the Christian sorority on campus, and Circle K, a small group of students that gather to complete volunteer work, are just a couple of the many groups getting involved. However, Milledgeville is not letting the students do all the work. It appears the community is just as eager to give back to its town.
According to the organization’s Web site, Relay For Life supports the American Cancer Society by honoring cancer survivors, paying tribute to the lives lost to the disease and raising money to help fight it. Relay For Life is a year-round organization dedicated to the service of fighting cancer nationwide. More than 4,000 groups form across the country every year.
Beginning in January, many student groups committed to fundraising. Circle K, led by student Melanie Wooten, gathered some students to get involved. The group plans on meeting its fundraising goals by selling water bottles with the Relay For Life logo. The group is also preparing to hold a balloon toss at the Relay For Life walk to be held Friday through Saturday, April 11 and 12. Although not a RSO, Circle K is hoping to support Relay For Life with its efforts.
“Relay For Life is important to me, because I had a close friend with a brain tumor. Thinking about how much new research could have helped her situation really affected me,” says Wooten.
Another student organization getting involved is SAO, which has already raised close to $2,100. They have run bake sales, asked for donations and held a raffle. Many members are also planning on working the Relay For Life walk this weekend as well.
“Relay For Life is a fundamental way to give back to the community. Cancer is an ongoing battle that many people face everyday. Research can help change that,” says Katelyn Hebert, SAO member planning on working the walk on April 11.
Community members and local businesses are also responsible for a significant amount of the funding donated to the American Cancer Society. Windstream Communications is just one business engaging in the race to end cancer. On Saturday, April 5, it prepared 100 plates of barbecue chicken to sell for Relay For Life.
“We sold all of our plates and had to get more chicken to fulfill people’s needs. Even with the rain, the community came out to support the cause,” says Pam Bell, the team captain for Windstream Communications.
Many people in the community have either been directly affected with cancer or know someone who has.
“Relay For Life is important to me because my sister passed away with cancer three years ago,” Bell said. “She died young, only 42 years old. The people I work with have all lost people in their lives as well. Since my sister’s death, I want to do all I can to help.”
In 2007 Baldwin County raised more than $213,000 for Relay For Life. That total was more than $10,000 over the 2006 revenue. The Baldwin County community has increased awareness of the organization over the years and in turn, more people have gotten involved in its mission. Baldwin County’s goal this year is $225,000. The Relay For Life teams in Baldwin County are on line at http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/about.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 11 2008. Filed under News.
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