CSUEB Students Walk in Relay For Life.
Cal State East Bay’s first American Cancer Society Relay for life raised more than $14,000 for the search of a cure.
Students and student organizations, as well as members of the community, came together to “celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.”
The American Cancer Society is a health organization that dedicates its services to those who have suffered from cancer. It also works to eliminate the disease and to prevent further health problems. Relay for Life is one of the society’s biggest fundraising events.
On May 6 and 7, Cal State East Bay’s Agora stage and Meiklejohn lawn were transformed into a meeting ground full of people dedicated to find a cure.
Organizations and teams gathered together and camped out for the night in preparation for a 24-hour Relay for Life. Each for a 24-hour Relay for Life. Each team had representatives who took turns walking around the track during the entire event, and because cancer never sleeps, they didn’t either.
The 24-hour event was jam-packed with fun activities, music, and many donations.
Activities included guest speakers from cancer survivors, dance and song performances, Congo Line Lap, Miss East Bay Pageant, and many more activities that kept the crowd lively.
The top three teams who raised the most donations include: Team captain, Tenaya Davis, and CSUEB Pioneer Athletics raised $2263. Team captain, Alejandro Pena, and Upward Bound Finest raised $1726. Team Captain and event chair, Teri Fleming, of Girls Night Out raised $1567. The top three individuals who raised the most donations include: Teri Fleming of Girls Night Out raised $520.58. Danielle Comforti of E-Lemonade Cancer raised $403.61. Kara Yamamoto of CSUEB Pioneer Athletics raised $376.48.
By 9 o’clock, night fell and the track was illuminated by luminaria. At this time all participants took a moment and walked a lap in silence to honor and remember loved ones. The ceremony also included a slideshow, which consisted powerful quotes and pictures, and another speaker from a CSUEB alumni who shared a story about her three-year-old survivor.
The night continued with more activities and a track with steady walkers.
Teri Fleming, the event chair, spent many hours into creating this successful event with the help of Michelle Regalo, who works for the American Caner Society, and all the team captains and committee members.
They were able to have Relay for Life on Cal State East Bay’s campus with their sponsors such as Marguerite Hinrichs of Student Life who provided at no cost the facilities, tables and chairs, and meeting space in preparation for the event. ASI provided restroom facilities in the University Union. Student Housing provided the screen and projector for the ceremony slideshows and midnight movie. Lastly University Police looked over us during the entire event.
With the help of their sponsors, they were able to reduce costs and raise more funds for the American Cancer Society.
Though the event is over, the fight for cancer is not. The CSUEB Relay for Life team will continue to raise funds for the remainder of the school year and have plans on post-event fundraisers such as A’s and Giants games, as well as another Bronco Billy’s and Chevys Restaurant night. They will notify the campus with more details.
With the many obstacles Teri and the committees faced, they were able to create teams and overcome them. This was the first time Relay for Life was held at CSUEB and certainly not the last. “I hope that this event will continue on campus and only get more students involved and raise more money,” Teri said. “Until there is a cure, the fight will not stop. Fight Back!
