RPI’s second annual Relay for Life event was held last Friday on the ’86 Field, beginning at 6 pm and continuing until 8 am on Saturday. More than 1,400 RPI students, faculty, staff, and other community members joined forces to participate in the Institute’s second Relay for Life event, raising more than $100,000 for cancer research.
Over 110 participating teams walked around the field in an effort to raise cancer awareness and funds to further research.
In remarks delivered during the event, Terri Kersch, educator at the Student Health Center, shared her personal experiences as a caretaker of her parents, who each died from cancer, and as a 10-year cancer survivor. "I am here to tell you that it is true that the rain falls more gently on a cancer survivor, and it is true that the sun shines more brightly on a cancer survivor," she said.
"I simply want you to know that I am walking toward dawn because I do not want anyone to hear that word cancer and be filled with fear; to hear that word cancer and have to go through the horror of making treatment decisions; to hear that word cancer and experience the effects of treatments," Kersch continued. "I don’t want anyone to lose someone they love to cancer. Walking tonight was never a question. I walk because I must. I walk because I am strong. I walk because I am a cancer survivor."
The event kicked off with the first lap around the ’86 Field held in honor of cancer survivors from the RPI campus and local community. Each individual held balloons to represent the number of years since their diagnosis. The lap was immediately followed by the Caregiver’s Lap to celebrate family members, friends, and all those who have been involved in the care of individuals diagnosed with cancer.
The participating teams set up their campsites on ’86 Field dotting the grass with their tents, tables, and sleeping bags. The overnight event featured themed laps, music courtesy of RPI student groups and local bands, and a series of activities organized by several Rensselaer Union student organizations.
The top five company and organization ranks for this year were the Hartnett family and Pi Kappa Alpha, Lambda Chi Alpha, the men’s hockey team, Delta Phi and Alpha Phi. RPI raised $104,901 at this year’s event. The top five teams overall were the Hartnett family and Pi Kappa Alpha, the Super Alliance, the men’s hockey team, the Student Health Center and the Newman Catholic Fellowship.
Last year, RPI ranked as one of the top two colleges in the eastern division in this effort, after Cornell University, raising more than $116,600 for cancer research. To recognize RPI’s accomplishments for the 2006 Relay for Life event, the American Cancer Society presented RPI with the “Nationwide Number One Rookie Youth Event” award and the “Nationwide Number One Youth Per Capita Award,” in recognition of the fundraising accomplishments of the event participants at a Relay for Life on a university campus.
