Temple Relay for Life Prepares for April Fundraiser
WRITTEN BY: CAITLIN CHECKETT
Temple University’s Relay for Life organization is gathering on Friday, April 21st at the Student Pavilion to celebrate its success in raising money for the American Cancer Society.
Relay for Life is a nationwide fundraiser, with volunteers from over 5,000 communities. Volunteers organize special events and programs that inspire people to contribute to saving lives and help eliminate cancer.
Temple students involved in Relay for Life take part in numerous fundraising events throughout the year, with all profits going to the American Cancer Society. Members work with Road to Recovery, a program where donations pay for patient trips to the hospital. They also work with Hope Lodge, where patients and their families can stay for free. Every $100 raised by Temple’s Relay for Life organization pays for one free night for a family to stay at the lodge.
Relay for Life co-event lead Brittany Blass shares the organization’s motto, and the reasoning behind their efforts.
“We want to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays, while celebrating our survivors, remembering those we’ve lost, and fighting back against this terrible disease,” Blass said. “Hope is a big mission. We hope for a cure. We think that with hope, you can do anything, and Relay for Life is about finding that hope.”
The April 21st event is not only a celebration of all the money raised for Relay for Life, but also a fundraiser in itself. There will be a variety of games and tables filled with raffles and giveaways that will raise money for the organization.
Cory O’Donnell, another one of Relay for Life’s co-event leads, is extremely excited for the upcoming event. He describes how it will be a great wrap-up for all of the year’s work and achievements.
“We really think our event helps unite all of Temple,” O’Donnell said. “Relay is really unique since it incorporates all these different groups on campus and everyone is welcome. It’s a cause that every single person can relate to because cancer knows no race or any bounds whatsoever.”
Registration begins on April 21st at 6 p.m. at 1901 North 15th Street, with the event lasting from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The only requirement is to have raised $50 for the American Cancer Society.
