SJC’s Relay for Life Raises Highest-Ever Total

May 06, 2016

Relay for Life Club

SJC Long Island raises more than $30,000 toward cancer research

 

By David Henne

Marlee Cole '17 relayed for her grandmother. Jessica Post '17 relayed for both her grandmother and her grandfather. And hundreds more relayed for friends, family members and each other. 

This year, 43 teams and 377 participants helped SJC Long Island's Relay for Life fundraising campaign raise more than $30,000 for the American Cancer Society. It's the highest total raised since the College began participating in the event five years ago.

"The first time lung cancer took from me I was in second grade; it took my grandma," wrote Marlee, co-event leader of SJC's Relay for Life Club, on her donor page. "Years later, it came back and tried to take my dad. We went through hell and back on my dad’s journey. No one would ever think that something this devastating could yield anything positive but it did. My dad being diagnosed has made me in to the person who I am today."

Relay for Life is an overnight relay that encourages participants and survivors to celebrate those who have overcome cancer, and honor those who lost their battle with cancer or are fighting cancer. 

“We have been working toward reaching and surpassing a fundraising goal of $30,000 since I was a freshman on the planning committee,” said Marlee. “To be able to finally reach our goal of $30,000 and say that I helped plan the event makes me proud. We put in hours of hard work and dedication, and after finalizing our total at the end of the event, it was clear that all of those hours were worth it. I can't thank everyone involved enough for helping us organize such a successful event this year.”

All of the money raised at Relay for Life events goes to research, programs, testing and much more to help find the cure for cancer. Programs include Road to Recovery, where cancer patients receive rides to treatments from volunteers; Look Good. Feel Better., where women receive make up lessons and wigs to help them physically and mentally cope with the effects of chemotherapy; and The Hope Lodge, where cancer patients and their caregiver can stay for free during treatments so they are close enough to the medical centers. For more information about SJC’s Relay for Life, email [email protected].

“For the past five years, St. Joseph's College has partnered with Relay for Life,” said Rose Mary Howell, vice president for student life at SJC Long Island. “We are extremely pleased this year because we exceeded our goal and raised $31,000. Our students were amazing. We are very proud to serve our community in this manner.”