Give Cancer the Boot With Relay for Life!
Put on your cowboy boots and get ready to give cancer the boot at Relay for Life! American Cancer Society is hosting their annual Relay for Life event coming up in May starting from 6:00 p.m. on May 2 to 6:00 a.m. the following morning on the third, located in the Tinsley Center on campus. This year the theme is Rodeo, and The Comment met with Kiya Sahm (she/her), the Vice President of Recruitment, to learn more about what to expect.
American Cancer Society is a nationwide organization that raises money for people with cancer and their families, providing support for services such as transportation and billing. The branch organization for Bridgewater State University prepares year round for Relay for Life, which is an overnight fundraiser. There are many different aspects to Relay from Life, from guest speakers, to activities, to a luminaria walk, and more.
Some of the events that take place throughout the night include zumba, face painting, raffles, and other surprise activities. When asked about her favorite activity, Sahm struggled to pick just one. “I think my favorite is pie a pi with Sigma Pi, or when people bring activities to do, such as tossing a football or playing volleyball,” said Sahm. “It’s hard to pick just one when there is a lot of cool stuff to check out.”
Although the fundraiser event is quite long, lasting 12 hours, Sahm shared some simple advice for keeping up energy. “When you start to feel yourself getting tired, do a lap around the track, buy a redbull from DphiE, and wear comfy clothes,” said Sahm. “I feel like that always helps me.”
Last year, around 400 people attended the event, and Sahm hopes to see more participants this upcoming year. “It’s super easy to sign up,” said Sahm. “You can make a team by yourself or with a group like a student organization.”
Interested in participating? Check out BSU’s American Cancer Society Instagram page @relayforlifebsu and click the link in their bio to register. Registration covers the donation, entrance to the event, a t-shirt, and a luminaria bag to honor people in your life who battle cancer.
