Fayetteville-Manlius high school’s fifth Relay for Life walk will take place from noon to midnight on Saturday, April 14, at the school.
The school has donated nearly $250,000 toward cancer research from the fundraiser, and have set this year’s goal between $65,000 and $70,000.
“The idea for Relay came about in a Science Honor Society meeting five years ago when a group of students wanted to try something new,” said Ben Gnacik, an F-M High School science teacher. “After exploring a number of options, we decided that a large-scale event for the American Cancer Society would be our best option because so many of us are somehow touched by cancer. Almost immediately we began putting together our first F-M Relay for Life with a team of four students. It’s incredible to see how the original small group has grown over five years into a team of more than 30 students working to make this year’s event just as successful as past years.”
During the event, Relay for Life team members will take turns walking around the high school track from noon to midnight. Each team will have at least one member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps.
“Relay for Life is an event that encourages and fosters strong relationships and bonds, even in the face of hardship,” said student Shellie Downes, one of the event coordinators. “Along with raising awareness about cancer, Relay participants help raise funding for cancer research. It’s empowering to know that we can help make a difference in a cancer patient’s life and treatment.”
Each Relay for Life team also sets up a themed campsite at the event and continues their fundraising efforts by collecting donations for food, goods, games, and activities. This money will count towards their overall team fundraising goal. After sunset, luminaries will be lit to remember those who lost their lives to cancer, celebrate those who are survivors and show those affected by cancer that they are not alone. The luminaria ceremony is set for 8 p.m.
“The luminaria ceremony I participated in was extremely unifying and solemn,” said student Brittney Cross, another of the event organizers. “Toward the end of the event it helped remind me that the whole day was leading up to something much more universal than I had originally felt.”
