SJC Relay for Life Raises More Than $30,000

May 04, 2016

Patchogue, N.Y. – May 4, 2016 – St. Joseph’s College (SJC) is pleased to announce that its annual Relay for Life event, which took place on Saturday, April 30, raised $31,049.30 for the American Cancer Society. A family-oriented, 12-hour event, Relay for Life encourages team members to take turns walking or running around an illuminated track while raising awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society.

 “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 Cole ’17, co-event leader for SJC’s Relay for Life. “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.” 

In 1985, Relay for Life was created by Dr. Gordy Klat, a surgeon who wanted to show his support for his patients who were battling or had battled cancer. Today, the events have welcomed national success and feature three themes—celebrate, remember and fight back. The event begins with a “survivors lap,” an inspirational time when survivors circle the track together to celebrate their victories over cancer. After dark, there is a “luminary ceremony” that honors people who have been touched by cancer and remembers those who have passed. Lastly, the “fight back ceremony” is an opportunity for each participant to make a commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer.

“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.”

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].

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE
St. Joseph’s College has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the College provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service. Through SJC Brooklyn, SJC Long Island and SJC Online, the College offers degrees in more than 45 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs.