Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

Emily Dooley - dooleyeg@plu.edu

Mast LuteLife Reporter

This year marks PLU’s 3rd year participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Teams from PLU will help to raise funds to fight cancer, with a goal of $65,000 raised in 2008. This year PLU’s Relay teams will be doing an 18 hour walk.

Junior Laura Comstock is one of PLU’s Relay organizers this year. She believes that PLU participation makes a significant difference, not only to the Relay effort but also on campus.

“I think that Relay for Life is important to our campus because it provides students the opportunity to feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves, and where they are legitimately making a difference. It’s not something that’s fake or a façade, they are actually making a difference by coming out and supporting and celebrating survivors and fighting such a large disease,” said Comstock.

According to the American Cancer Society, their efforts have contributed to almost every major discovery in cancer research. The Society continues to fund research resulting in better ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. The Society also advocates for stronger policies and legislation that will support cancer treatment.

Comstock explained the Society’s mission further. “Relay for life exists to raise money for the American Cancer Society. They then use this money for research and support for cancer patients and survivors. The event is also a way to celebrate survivors, remember those who have been lost and fight back against cancer,” she said. “What is more important to me than raising money is making an event to celebrate survivors. It’s not about numbers; it’s an event to bring awareness.”
There are currently 60 teams signed up to participate in Relay at PLU this year, with the goal of 65 teams by the events opening. Comstock encourages students to join the effort.

“Students can do?a number of things to get involved. Get some friends, get a club or team to sign up for a team. People can also volunteer on the committee, by contacting me at comstolm@plu.edu,” said Comstock.

Sophomore Tessie Goheen is also involved with PLU’s Relay for Life, and has been involved with the organization for over 10 years. She has a personal understanding of the importance of the event. Her family has a rare genetic mutation called Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, which alters the tumor suppressor gene and leaves them with a 90 percent chance of getting cancer at a young age. Goheen began supporting Relay for Life at a young age when her father was first diagnosed with the syndrome.

“I got involved with Relay for Life when I was about 5 years old. My father was diagnosed with cancer the previous year and started a team. When he died, my family stopped doing it for a few years but I began to get involved again in junior high when my sister Katie was diagnosed,” she said.

“Relay for Life has impacted me because I get to help an organization that helped my family through so much. It’s a way I can help other families in similar situations and it’s a time when my family can come together and remember my dad and how passionate he was about Relay, even while he was going through treatment,” she continued.

For Goheen, supporting Relay for Life is a way of giving back to the organization that helped her family.

“It funds important grants that provides researchers the money and supplies they need to find breakthrough cancer treatments; it provides resources to individuals going through treatment that they may not be able to afford including support groups, wigs, and things that help support families going through this; and it provides opportunities like Camp Goodtimes, a camp for kids with cancer and their siblings, that is fully staffed with nurses and doctors so that these kids can go to summer camp and be fully taken care of.”

Senior Jon Morehead also has a personal reason for his involvement with Relay.

“My mom is currently battling ovarian cancer,” he said, “and I have seen the positive impacts that the services of the American Cancer Society provides for her. This is the reason that I relay.”
When asked what his favorite part of the event is he replied, “During Relay the survivor lap is my favorite event because it reminds everyone there why we put so much time and effort into this event.”

Relay for Life was started in the mid-1980s when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma surgeon, wanted to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed—running marathons. In May 1985, Dr. Klatt spent 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for more than 83 miles. Friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer.

His efforts towards supporting the American Cancer Society continue today, with over 4,800 Relays nationwide. Volunteers from across the country committed to fighting cancer gather once a year at Relay for Life to celebrate survivors and remember loved ones lost to the disease. Teams of 8-15 members participate together, taking turns camping out and resting, walking or running, and cheering on their teammates with the goal of keeping one person on the track at all times. Relay for Life opens with cancer survivors taking the first lap. Relay teams follow them, participating for 12-24 hours.

This year Relay for Life will be held from April 25 6 p.m. - April 26 11 a.m. on the PLU track.

For more information e-mail plurelay@plu.edu or check out the PLU Relay for Life’s Facebook group.

Photos Courtesy of Laura Comstock

Top: Members of the Pflueger 2006 Relay for Life Team, junior Kristen Gelbach, alum Brett Patterson, sophomore Adam Brown, junior Kimmie Ellis, and senior Sean Roach display their team pride as they circle the PLU track. The theme for teams this year are TV shows. Some examples of 2008 PLU teams are Scrubs, Arrested Development, Reno 911 and American Gladiators.

Center: Members of the Relay for Life Committee seniors Jackie Mendez, Ingrid Larson, and Jackie Cornwall at the Relay for Life Dance. The money raised from ticket sales are going towards the American Cancer Society.

Bottom: After completing Relay for Life 2007, teams walk back towards campus. Relay for Life 2008 will be April 25 at 6 p.m. through April 26 at 11 a.m.