A Relay for Life event at UND last Friday raised more than $11,500 for the American Cancer Society.

The 12-hour relay started at 6 p.m. in the Hyslop Sports Center and wrapped up Saturday morning. UND was represented by 204 participants from 21 teams.

Cancer survivors walked the first lap to start the night. They were then joined for a second lap by caregivers who have supported people with cancer. After that, everyone joined for a third ceremonial lap before the event officially began.

Relay for Life is found in 5,200 communities around the world, according to Sara Lepp, a senior manager for Relay for Life. Another Relay for Life for Greater Grand Forks will take place in June.

“Everyone is affected in some way by cancer,” Lepp said. “It’s such an awful disease and it affects so many of us. This is a great opportunity to fight back.”

Lepp oversees Relay for Life around the state and travels to events to recruit and train volunteers and help them find the resources they need.

Lepp worked with a committee of 25 to 30 students to put on UND’s event. One of these students was Ryan Hanson, a senior majoring in civil
engineering.

Hanson said he has been involved in the last four Relay for Life events at UND. He was a participant the first two years, a committee member the third year and a committee co-chairman this year.

Hanson said he enjoys seeing everyone setting aside an entire night to work toward a common goal.

“When I’m older, I’ll be involved in Relay for Life no matter what community I’m in,” Hanson said. “If there’s not one in the community I’m in, I’ll probably start one.”

To make the night interesting, Relay for Life teams set up games or sell food or drinks to raise money to add to pledges they receive.

The Nursing Student Association sold chances to win a
goldfish by making a ping pong ball in a vase. The team was represented by 19 students, including Jenna Severance and Cassie Thompson, both in their third semester of the nursing program and second year at Relay for Life.

Thompson said she is inspired by the strength of the cancer patients she meets while doing clinical studies at the hospital.

“We see cancer patients
every single day, and they have the best attitudes out of all the patients,” Thompson said. “They go through so much, so for them to have such high spirits, it’s awesome to see that.”

Severance, who also served on the entertainment committee for the event, said she plans to participate in future events.

“Relay for Life raises so much money to try to find a cure for cancer, and I think that’s what we all want,” Severance said.

According to its website, Relay for Life has raised nearly $5 billion for the American Cancer Society since 1985.

Lucas Amundson is the features editor for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected]