Be A Hero And Help Fight Cancer With Relay For Life And Two Other Local Universities
No one ever wants to hear the term “cancer” said in his or her lifetime. Unfortunately, it is the case for millions of children and adults worldwide each day. Cancer, a word that so many wish they could delete from their vocabulary, has a lasting impact on each and every individual.
The Fighting Knights community is no different. Each year, students come together in hopes to one day have the power to eliminate the word completely. Lynn University students make strides at this by participating in the annual Relay for Life event.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) coordinates this event in more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries in hopes to take action to fight the long battles individuals affected with cancer have to endure.
On March 31, in partnership with Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College, Lynn will come together on the FAU track eld to remember loved ones who lost their battles, honor survivors and raise money and awareness to help the ACS find a cure.
Diego Ruiz, sophomore, considers last year’s Relay for Life “one of the most memorable moments of [his] freshman year.”
This year, Ruiz has taken an extra step for Relay for Life and is in charge of the Event Lead Team, the team that organizes the entire overnight Relay for Life event.
Ruiz encourages all students who may not have joined yet to sign up.
“We are always ready to take on one more person to help make a difference and together we can ght cancer back,” said Ruiz. “The Relay For Life event is a wonderful time to promote a positive outlook on cancer and at how we can all fight cancer together.”
Jerry Collender, team captain for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Relay team, says it is important to participate in Relay for Life events because “cancer is a disease we are all affected by, but it shows how dedicated we are to Relay for Life and cancer patients.”
This will be Collender’s fourth Relay for Life event as a Fighting Knight and wants everyone on campus to “show up, make donations, and bring friends so everyone gets involved!”
“Relay for Life is a great way to bond with your organization or group of friends while doing something for a great cause,” said Jaclyn Kuwik, Coordinator for Student Involvement.
“All of us have been affected by cancer in some way,” said Kuwik. “Relay for Life is a time to re ect, celebrate lives and combat this disease together.”
Every year, the walk becomes even more important to some students. Abby Bridgewater, freshman, will be walking during the survivors’ lap. This lap is designed to honor all survivors who are participating in the event, as a reminder of their strength.
“Relay for Life is important to me as a survivor of childhood cancer because it gives future kids more of a chance to survive and live a better life,” says Bridgewater.
By supporting one another, having fun and fundraising to help ACS nd a cure for cancer one day, Lynn students are hopeful in the mission to allow the community to have a cancer information center, provide transportation and even pay for surgeries and chemotherapy sessions.
This year’s Relay for Life theme is superheroes, so feel free to dress up and help make strides to eliminate cancer from everyone’s lives.
For students interested in joining the Relay for Life of Universities of Boca Raton event, contact Diego Ruiz at Druiz@email.lynn.edu or the new Vice President of Recruitment De’laija Napier at Dnapier@ email.lynn.edu
Lynn students, faculty and organizations are encouraged to create or join teams and donate to the cause by visiting www.relayforlife.org/ universitysboca .
