Miami University's annual Relay for Life event is anticipating hundreds more participants than in past years for its April 2007 event - making Miami the top fund-raising campus for Relay in Life in Ohio.
The On Campus for Cancer Awareness organization will hold its annual Relay for Life event April 13 to 14 at Cook Field to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones and raise money for the fight against cancer.
Teams of eight to 15 members will gather with tents and sleeping bags with the goal of keeping one person on the track at all times.
Expectations for the level of participation in Relay for Life this year are particularly significant, according to senior Kristin Conatti, president of On Campus for Cancer Awareness.
"Whereas we usually draw a projected crowd of 600, this year our count is already over 900 and rising by the day," Conatti said. "Relay (for Life) is not only doing a great thing for the American Cancer Society, but this event is also putting Miami on the map in philanthropy projects."
According to the American Cancer Society's online statistics, Miami has been announced as the top fund-raising campus community for Relay for Life in the state of Ohio.
Conatti credits this abnormal rise in participation on Miami's campus to a few different factors.
"Miami was able to become the top fund-raising school for Relay for Life because of more awareness of the event on campus," she said. "Our committee this year did a great job recruiting different groups of participants - Greek life, dorms, student organizations, etc. We have also had more face-to-face contact and have done more presentations."
Conatti said many of the participants' favorite part of the event is the entertainment. This year, the Indian Student Association will be performing a dance, WMSR is co-DJing the event, and groups such as the Miami Steel Drum Band will perform.
Sophomore Rachel Dubin expressed her enthusiasm to be a part of this year's relay.
"Relay for Life is a really great cause and I'm excited to hang out with my friends on a Friday night while supporting cancer research," Dubin said. "I've already participated twice and both times were a lot of fun, so I'm really looking forward to this year's relay as well."
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On Campus for Cancer Awareness hopes to raise its estimated goal of $83,000 for this year's event. Last year's Relay for Life raised $79,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The On Campus for Cancer Awareness organization has also been enrolled as a chapter of an organization called Colleges Against Cancer, which allows college students, faculty, and staff to work together to bring American Cancer Society programs and services to college communities nationwide.
Conatti said their organization has been able to promote Relay for Life year-round by participating in small events sponsored by Colleges Against Cancer. These events have included the promotion of the Smoke Free Ohio bill and the Great American Smoke Out and passing out fliers to raise awareness of cervical, testicular and skin cancer.
"When we've been promoting these other events, we always plugged Relay for Life as well or we'd write Relay information at the bottom of fliers for other events," Conatti said. "This has also helped get the word out to the entire campus."
Students can register to participate or donate toward Relay for Life at www.acsevents.org/relay/oh/miamiu.
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