What event combines music, games, and food and lasts for 12 hours? Only one event comes to mind, and that’s Relay For Life.
Chatham’s Relay For Life will take place on February 6 from noon to midnight in the Athletic and Fitness Center. Relay For Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society (ACS).
This will be Chatham’s fourth annual Relay For Life. Last year Chatham’s Relay raised $10,000 for the ACS, and this year they are reaching for that same goal. The money raised helps to provide support for individuals and families affected by cancer.
According to the ACS, Chatham’s Relay For Life has supported 76 calls to the cancer information center for a cancer patients. It has helped 432 people get connected to clinical trials through clinical trials matching. It has funded 86 rides for cancer patients to and from treatments through the Road the Recovery program. It has supported 88 women in the Reach to Recovery program where women facing breast cancer are paired with a trained breast cancer survivor for support. It has helped to provide 130 nights of free lodging at a Hope Lodge for a cancer patient and their caregiver. It has funded 21 early career researchers who have turned to the American Cancer Society to investigate cancer, its causes, and how to help patients cope with the effects of the disease and its treatment. All of this was possible with the help of Chatham’s Relay For Life.
Relay For Life is a not an athletic event but a celebration of life. There are not any relays or baton passes. What can be expected at Chatham’s Relay is a whole 12 hours packed full of activities.
Interested participants can register on relayforlife.org/pachatham and join or make a team. Anyone a can make a team–academic departments, classes, friends, student organization, residence halls. There’s a special treat for those who register and donate to Relay For Life. Registered participants who raise $25 will be entered into a drawing to win tickets to see One Direction and Taylor Swift.
“For every $25 you raise, you receive one ticket to put into the drawing,” said Coordinator of Residence Life and Student Activities, Emily Fidago. “So if you raised $100 you would receive four tickets. The more you raise the more chances you have to win.”
Tickets will be pulled from the drawing between 9 p.m. and midnight and you must be present to win.
There will also be a silent auction with gift baskets from local businesses, gift cards, Pittsburgh Pirates tickets, and much more.
Relay For Life kicks off at noon with Dine & Dance. Lunch will be served in the AFC gym. At lunch there will be a swing dance lesson taught by Swing City Pittsburgh instructor Jared Clemens.
At 5 p.m. is the survivor ceremony with guest speaker, Dr. Harrington. Hall Olympics will commence at 7 p.m. followed by a game of extreme musical chairs at 9 p.m.
Special guest performers include University of Pittsburgh Hip Hop Dance Crew and the Panther Belly Dancers. In addition, Chatham alumna Olivia Traini will return to perform a comedy set.
The Relay For Life Committee and the Office of Residence Life and Student Activities-Student Affairs also have events leading up to Relay. On January 29, the Student Alumni Association (SAA) is hosting a bowling night at Forward Lanes. The cost is $11. This includes two hours of bowling and shoe rental.
On February 5, Chatham has a night out at the Mongolian Grill. It is $25 for, “all you can eat.” For another $5 you will receive a movie ticket. All proceeds benefit Relay For Life.
“Relay For Life is a time where the whole Chatham Community can come to together to help support the fight against cancer, celebrate those who survived and celebrate those who were lost to the disease,” said Meg Scanlon, Relay For Life co-chair and Community Service Coordinator.