The 5th Annual Relay for Life at Union, a 12-hour walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society, is set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 18, through 7 a.m. Saturday, May 19.
The event takes place around the plaza alongside the Nott Memorial, with teams taking turns walking or running laps. To keep up the energy and enthusiasm, there will be music, entertainment, activities, contests and food.
Hundreds of candlelit “luminaria” bags will surround the Nott in celebration of cancer survivors and in memory of loved ones who lost their battle to cancer. At sunset, these bags will light the way as moment of silence falls during the “Ceremony of Hope.”
Survivors will be honored during the Survivors Lap.
Since 2003, Union students and other participants have raised more than $100,000 for cancer research. This year’s co-chairs, seniors Kelsey Allen-Dicker, Katie Kaufman and Tara Pezze, are hoping for another robust turnout. Kaufman, who has been working at the Union event the past three years, has participated in a Relay for Life since high school.
“My aunt passed away my freshman year at Union, and soon after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I decided I needed to take a more active role in raising cancer awareness on this campus,” she said.
To learn more, visit www.acsevents.org/relay/ny/unioncollege.