Student-run Relay For Life provides Rider community powerful way to fight cancer

Rider University’s entire community is invited to participate in the Relay For Life event beginning on Saturday, March 25.  Kicking off at 6 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center, the event provides a way to contribute to the fight against cancer.  
 
 Relay For Life has become the largest student-run event on the Lawrenceville campus, and is a powerful way to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for the intractable disease.  
 Rider’s Relay For Life has raised over $425,000 for the American Cancer Society since hosting it in 2009. The American Cancer Society funds research, promotes healthy lifestyles that prevent cancer and helps save more than 400 lives a day.   With more than 1.5 million newly diagnosed cases a year in the U.S., this event promotes information on how people can reduce their cancer risk, gives an opportunity to honor cancer survivors and be a part of the solution to ending cancer.  
 This year’s Relay For Life is superhero themed, promoting the hashtag #NotAllHeroesWearCapes, to show that everyone has the power to be a superhero by making a difference and helping find the cure for cancer. 
 During the event, students take turns walking around a track or path, and each lap has a designated purpose. In addition to walking, there will be performances by the dance ensemble, dance club, step team and the acoustic set. Other activities include a dance party hosted by Ezra Hill (Dj SoWavveyy), Zumba, yoga, a wing eating contest and more.    The night-long event will start with a special reception for survivors and caregivers at 6 p.m., opening ceremonies and a survivor lap at 8 p.m., and a Luminaria Ceremony at 10 p.m. to honor those who have lost their battle to cancer. Rider’s Relay For Life will end at 6 a.m. on Sunday with a closing ceremony and awards.  With many people knowing someone who was affected by cancer, this event receives a large turnout of student teams from across the University, including academics, athletics and Greek Life. 
 “Relay For Life is a great event because we are spreading awareness and the desire to create a world without cancer,” says Kat Guiry, a co-advisor of the Relay For Life event. “This is an event for the whole campus to get together and engage in something that is so much bigger than ourselves, and it is amazing to see the campus unite for a common cause.”
 To support or get involved in Rider’s Relay For Life event, sign up as an individual participant, join/create a team or donate to the cause here.