Chatham Relay For Life Association (RFLA) will be hosting Chatham’s fifth annual Relay For Life event on Friday, Feb. 5 from noon until midnight in Chatham’s Athletic and Fitness Center.

This is the first year Relay For Life has been spearheaded by a student organization. RFLA became a student organization in the fall of 2015 with the hope of making Relay For Life a student-driven event.

The Relay For Life Committee has worked since August in conjunction with the local American Cancer Society chapter to plan an event that is not only tons of fun for the Chatham Community; but also draws attention to how cancer has touched each and every one of us and commemorate those who have fought cancer and lived to tell about it. RFLA has fundraised so far with events such as the Squirt Gun Hunger Games, The Talent Show, and the Willy Wonka-themed Sarris chocolate bar sale to help reach the goal of $25,000.

Relay For Life is a 12-hour fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society. Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to make or join teams. Chatham Relay has 21 teams and counting. Some established teams include Girl Up, FACE, SASB Faculty and Staff, Chatham Student Government, Chatham MSA, and many others.

Many of the teams will have a table during Relay with an activity to further reach their fundraising goal.  New this year is a team gift basket raffle. Teams have the opportunity to make gift baskets and the money generated from the basket goes to that team’s fundraising goal.  

The survivor’s ceremony will occur once again. The ceremony is meant to celebrate those who have survived cancer. There will be a speaker followed by a survivor’s lap around the track.  

Those wanting to pay tribute to a loved one who fell victim to cancer can purchase a luminaria bag. The bags are being sold currently and will also be sold during the Relay For Life event. Luminaria will be placed out on the Athletic and Fitness Center’s staircase so as participants walk up to the track they can see all of them.

The whole day is fully packed. The event kicks off at noon with opening ceremonies. Lunch will be provided in the gym by Parkhurst dining services. Local bands such as Karma and Chatham’s own Chris Bollinger will perform in the evening.  The much-enjoyed game of Extreme Musical Chairs has returned with the possibility of a life-sized version of your favorite childhood board game. Last but not least, one can watch three Chatham students chop off their ponytails to be made into wigs for cancer patients.

Students and faculty can help support Chatham Relay by registering for the event and fundraising, and joining the twelve hours of games, activities and celebration as we work to end the fight with cancer once and for all.

For information on Chatham University Relay For Life Association, follow them and Facebook  for updates and visit the official Relay page at relayforlife.org/pachatham.edu.