Holy Cross to Host Relay for Life

Students anticipate start of big tradition at College

Students at the College of the Holy Cross will host the third annual Relay for Life from 5:45 p.m. on Friday, April 13 to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 14on the Hart Center track. “This year’s theme is birthdays,” shares Jackie Smith ’15, co-chair of the event. “We hope the Holy Cross and College Hill communities can join in the fight against cancer so that every cancer victim can celebrate another birthday.”  

Relay for Life is a national event that is an overnight, relay-style event that raises money for the American Cancer Society, which is dedicated to providing cancer patients with the tools for research, education, advocacy, and services. Teams sign up online and can camp in tents overnight at the track. Although members of each team are not required to stay for the entire duration of the event, Relay for Life’s goal is to have at least one member of each team walking the track at all times to show the perseverance and strength that are needed to find a cure for cancer.

Although Holy Cross has organized a Relay for Life during the past two years, Smith anticipates that this will be the start of a bigger tradition at Holy Cross. “Holy Cross is very proud of its sense of community between the faculty, staff, and student body,” she shares. “I would love to see this campus come together in order to raise money and participate in such a great cause.”

In her hometown of Springfield, Mass., Smith was very active with Relay for Life throughout her high school years. In 2010, she chaired her local relay, which had more than 1000 participants, 50 survivors, 80 teams, and raised more than $85,000. In 2011, she set the bar even higher with over 1,500 participants, 55 survivors, 88 teams, and raised more than $100,000.

The goals for this year’s Relay for Life at Holy Cross is to have over 500 participants, 25 survivors, and raise at least $5000.    The speakers for the event include Marielle McKenna ’14, the ‘Fight Back’ speaker who will talk about her experience shaving her head to spread awareness for pediatric cancer through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation; and Lenore Montanaro ‘12, a three-time cancer survivor and volunteer with the John Montanaro Fund, which was started in honor of her brother who passed away from cancer.

Various campus groups will provide entertainment including The Delilahs, a female a cappella group, and student deejay Peter Issa ’13. There will be activities and games throughout the night including a moon bounce.

For more information contact Jackie Smith ‘15.