By Andy Murphy '17
More than 300 Siena students spent last Friday night walking for cancer awareness in the Marcelle Athletic Complex on campus. Together they raised $20,000 at Siena’s 9th annual Relay for Life, which is a 12-hour fundraising event.
Planning began back in October and this year’s event featured a Disney theme with giveaways that included princess prize packs. The movie “Frozen” was played at 3 a.m.
“I was very pleased with the turnout of the event,” said Relay for Life Committee Chair Kate Bender ’16. “We had twice as many people as last year with people staying throughout the entire night.”
Three banners hung from the railing of the indoor track that read “Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back,” which illustrated the evening’s purpose.
Siena College’s Step and Hip Hop Dance Teams entertained students into the early morning hours. There was also an open mic portion along with a Kan-Jam Tournament and a “Pie the Relay for Life E-Board” event.
In 2014, an estimated 1,665,540 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and 585,720 people will die from cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Siena’s Relay for Life event offers an opportunity for students to remember their lost loved ones, but also to embrace survivors and to care for the ones who are still fighting this battle.
