By Samantha Biastre
Relay for Life will be held at Andre Reed Stadium on Sunday April 3, marking the first time the event will be at KU in over five years. The event is hosted by KU Health Ambassadors, a club dedicated to “promoting all aspects of healthy living such as nutrition, fitness, mental health and wellness to Kutztown University and within the Kutztown community.”
The club always picks a philanthropic cause to support throughout the semester or the academic year.
In the past, the club has picked the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and organized Zumba-athons to raise money and awareness about breast cancer. At the beginning of last semester, one of the KUHA members suggested looking into getting Relay for Life on campus.
All of the club members have been touched by cancer in one way or another, whether it be a family member or friend who has battled cancer, so they thought it would be a great philanthropy for them to take on.
Relay for Life is one of the main fundraising events for the American Cancer Society (ACS), with more than $400 million being raised from events that are held all over the country every year.
The $400 million dollars that is raised goes to the American Cancer Society for research that is done for every type of cancer for a cure, and free information and services that are provided to cancer patients and their caregivers.
Relay for Life had not been on KU’s campus for five years.
KUHA had a lot of work to do to get the event back on campus.
They had to reach out to the local ACS office and set up meetings with workers from the office and they had to reach out to university officials to alert them about bringing the event back.
The ACS assigned the club with a staff partner from their office to help the club plan events, and how to get the word out to campus about Relay for Life.
Victoria Hildebrandt, a junior leisure and sports studies major and the volunteer chair for Relay for Life, said that bringing the event back to campus means that
“It helps get students involved in a great event, and doing Relay for Life on campus helps raise a lot of money because so many people are passionate about it.”
Registration will begin 1 p.m., opening ceremonies starting at 2 p.m. and the closing ceremonies at 7 p.m.
Clubs and individuals are encouraged to sign up for $10 online at relayforlife.org/kutztownuniversitypa.
On the day of the event, registration will be $20.
Cancer survivors are able to receive a free entry fee.