On Tuesday, Jan. 12, Mercyhurst College’s Student Government and Circle K held a kickoff ceremony for Mercyhurst College’s first-ever Relay for Life Event.

The kickoff event’s festivities included team registration, food, music, speakers and video footage of previous Relay for Life Events.

Senior Vanlam Luu, an MSG representative and co-organizer of the event, said the actual relay is scheduled to occur at Mercyhurst on Saturday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Relay for Life is an event to celebrate the lives of cancer victims, remember lost loved ones, and fight back against the disease. The day-long event symbolizes the struggle cancer patients face because cancer never sleeps.

Along with Luu, senior President of Circle K Club Maria Rambuski is coordinating Relay for Life.

“There are very few shared experiences in life that connect people together, for the good or the bad, in the way that cancer does,” Rambuski said.

The relay begins with a survivor walk, where cancer survivors take the first honorary walk around. The second walk is for caretakers of people with cancer and then finally the teams begin walking as well.

In a normal relay, team members take turns walking around the course for 24 hours. However, since this will be Mercyhurst College’s first Relay for Life event, Luu said the relay will occur for only 12 hours.

“Team members may leave and come back as long as there is one person walking at a time,” Luu said.

Entertainment, food, and music will be provided, so people are encouraged to stay the entire time.

Each team should be comprised of up to 15 people and is asked to raise at least $25 per person. Each person to raise $100 or more will receive a free T-shirt.

“No matter who we are, we all are rooting for a cure or struggling with the effects of cancer’s touch, either directly or indirectly,” Rambuski said.

Students and faculty who missed the kickoff event may still register a team by contacting Vanlam Luu at vluu13@mercyhurst.edu or Maria Rambuski at mrambu64@mercyhurst.edu. Registration packets will be delivered and donations are also being accepted.