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The Daily OrangeA cause to care about | Relay for Life increases in popularity on college campuses nationwide
By Stephanie Musat
Posted: 3/28/08, 12:54 AM EST Section: News
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And they aren't drinking - they are fighting cancer.
"Some say that our generation is inactive, but we have other ways to get involved," said Nick Huertas, co-chair of Syracuse University's Relay for Life. "Relay is a cause that we've attached ourselves to. It's our way of activism."
More and more colleges across the country are hosting Relay. The top 10 fundraising schools and colleges for the American Cancer Society have started their relays within the past seven years.
There are 183 teams participating in this year's Relay at SU with more than 1,700 participants, said Sara Covino, co-chair of the Relay. Prior to the event, $115,916.06 was raised, compared with last year's $70,000, Covino said.
She said students recognize there is work to be done so they participate actively on college campuses.
The first relay at SU was six years ago.
"It was the student's choice to bring Relay here," Corvino said. "Five members from Alpha Phi Omega asked the American Cancer (Society) Board for a Relay on campus, and the reaction was really good."
Since its first year, Relay has grown in popularity and activism as more people participate and more money is raised each year, she said.
Idriss Njike, assistant resident director for SkyHalls on South Campus, is the team captain for team SkyZ Da Limit "Da Jump Off." His team has raised $4,815.94 - the largest amount for a student team and the second highest team in the Relay.
The appeal of Relay to college students is that it is a way for students to get involved, Njike said.
"College students are always trying to get involved in something, especially trying to give back," he said. "It's all about college students getting involved in a cause that they care about."
The premise of the Relay is broken down into three pieces: to celebrate, to honor and to fight back.
The celebration commemorates those who survived cancer, the Relay honors those who lost their battle with the disease and the fight back is against the cancer, the category in which the students are most active, said Nick Huertas, SU's Relay co-chair.
Lydia D'Agostino, the chapter president of the N.Y. Alpha Chapter of Pi Beta Phi agreed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
vickie hornstein
posted 3/28/08 @ 8:23 AM EST
Great to see such coverage of this important event. An interesting follow-up may be the efforts towards this campaign orchestrated at the SUMadrid campus this last monthe. (Continued…)
JMB
posted 3/29/08 @ 12:04 AM EST
Long Live Relay!
As a previous member & chair of the onsite activites, it is amazing that RELAY SU has finally moved out of Manly & into the Dome!
An amazing event & truly touching. (Continued…)
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