Geneseo hosts annual Relay for Life event and raises over $7,000 for the American Cancer Society
On Sunday, Apr. 23, the SUNY Geneseo American Cancer Society on Campus (ACSOC) hosted their annual Relay for Life event in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom. Each year, the organization brings people on campus together to raise money for cancer research, and hopefully, for a cure. Though the organization has faced challenges to revive the event after the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event showed immense promise for the years to come.
At the event, which lasted six hours, students and community members gathered together with Geneseo’s ACSOC to honor the lives of those who lost their lives in their fight against cancer, as well as to celebrate those who are currently battling the disease. Participants all raised money for the event—gathering donations from friends, family, and other community members—and throughout the day celebrated their hard work with games, performances, and ice-breakers.
In an interview conducted at the event, several executive board members detailed how the process has been challenging, but one that was extremely worthwhile.
“A major challenge [has been] trying to get people to know what Relay is here on campus,” said sophomore childhood special education major Juliana Wright, the Vice President of ACSOC. “Ever since COVID it’s been a struggle for us, but we made a good comeback this year. We changed location [from the IRA Ice Arena to the MacVittie Ballroom], and I like it a lot more. I feel like we’re able to do more [with the event].”
By the end of the day, the combined efforts of the e-board and all of the participants certainly paid off: they raised $7,203 to donate to the American Cancer Society.
Sophomore biology Abby Miller, the chair of fundraising for the Geneseo ACSOC, was enthusiastic about the group’s accomplishments after they revealed the total amount that was raised for donation.
“It feels great,” said Miller. “It’s been a long year, [so] getting [to that] amount feels very good. [We are] happy to have made it there.”
Sophomore English and adolescent education major Charlotte Salotto, the organization’s head of media, insightfully echoed Miller’s sentiments: “We’ve been working all year for this event… This has been the ‘human’ event of the year, so it’s really exciting to finally have a final amount now. I hope that next year we can raise more.”
The e-board is confident that next year, they will continue to be ambitious in their goals. Since many of the e-board members still have a couple years left at Geneseo, they are ready to lead the event and prepare to get donations from a wide range of people.
“I think we had to get our toes wet this year,” said Wright. “We have to go hardcore next year, and now we know what to do.”
While the group spends endless hours preparing and working towards this goal, they noted that it was an incredible show of support from the community. They also have personal connections to Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society, which further compels them to put their time and energy into raising money.
“I joined Relay because I did it growing up and I thought it was amazing that the school does it too; so, [I’m] really happy to be able to continue that,” said Miller.
The group showed an endless amount of gratitude for all who donated and participated this year. Their efforts and time are certain to make an impact as they help those currently battling cancer and continue to work towards a cure.