By Batala Aristide
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- For the last 10 years students not only from
Plattsburgh State, but from all over the country, gather around for 12
hours-sing, dance, march, and come together for solidarity, for
community, for life. Relay for Life, an event that brings people from all
walks of life regardless of age or social status into an arena where
they have the same common enemy-Cancer.
The Relay for Life event would never happened had it not been
the courage and fortitude of one man to make the event a global
phenomenon. In May 1985, Gordy Klatt, a medical surgeon from
Tacoma, Washington-was thinking of new ways to increase the
income of his local American Cancer Society office, so he decided to
do that along with combining his passion-running a marathon. Klatt
spent 24 hours running 83 miles around Baker Stadium at the
University of Puget; 41 years later, his legacy lives on and Relay for
Life is still bringing awareness to the disease.
Many students have witnessed the impact of Relay. Olivia
Edwards, a Plattsburgh State student and member of Alpha Epsilon
Phi sorority has attended Relay for Life twice, and this time around
she fully understood the importance.
“I realized there are more people around me who have been
impacted by cancer,” Edwards said. Edwards goes on to add that the
highlight of the night for her was the Luminaria event-a candlelight vigil
when the sun sets to remember loved ones who have been affected
and died from the disease. The Luminaria can be filled with a name,
photo or an inspirational message.
“That part (Luminaria) was very touching and it brought a lot of
people closer,” Edwards said. She was not the only student who took
solace knowing the event was for a great cause. Plattsburgh State
Freshman Travis Jones also believed the event brought home a
powerful message.
“Cancer affects everyone. An event like this is important because
it is one of those rare moments where people are united instead of
divided. I really like that,” Jones said. Before the event, Jones has
never heard of Relay for Life and originally wanted to attend because
his friends were attending the event as well. That is when Jones was
told by one of his good friends that they had a relative die from
Cancer. Jones went for a different reason this time; to support his best
friend.
“That really hurt me when he told me that. I wanted to go to turn
up, but after my best friend told me the news about his Aunt, I went
because I wanted to support my bro,” Jones said.
The event although for a serious cause, is nothing short of
celebratory. Students walked all around the track at the Fieldhouse
where they were greeted with performances by the Plattsburgh Kick
line, Dance Corps and even some slack lining. The event was success
with Plattsburgh State raising more than $50,000 for the American
Cancer Society.
“It was amazing. I have to come back next year,” replied Jeff
Woods, who is not a Plattsburgh State student but attended the event
because he too had a close friend who lost a family member to
cancer.
“If events like this do not impact you in some way, you have no
soul,” Woods said. Woods was as fiery as he was emotional. He does
not have anyone close to him who is affected by the disease, but
watching his close friends hurt, hurt him as well. The Luminaria
ceremony was when Woods broke down.
“I just could not bottle it in that long, I just lost it” Woods said.
The moment of silence during the Luminaria event is what Woods is
referring to. Relay for Life can do that to you. The event is more than
about raising money, but more so celebrating life; Life lost, and life
that still exists.
One person who played a role in this year’s event was Jasmine
Callis, a member of the Relay for Life Public Relations committee.
Callis attended her first relay and talked about the importance of such
an event.
“It’s a good helping hand and it shows more compassion to the
community,” Callis said. Callis agrees that such an event is
celebrating a great cause and event like this not only takes a toll on
you emotionally to attend, but also to plan it.
Callis says she tries to see the best in situations and hopes the
event can continue to reach everyone because “cancer never sleeps”.
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