VSU Hosts Fifth Annual Relay for Life

VALDOSTA --Valdosta State University will host the fifth annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life from 7 p.m. Friday, April 15, until 7 a.m. Saturday, April 16, on the front lawn.



VSU’s relay will feature more than 50 teams, many of which will provide other activities throughout the night. Luminaries can be purchased for $5 and may be decorated in any way by the buyer.

So far VSU has raised a little more than $17,000. Several teams have held fundraisers such as car washes and bake sales to raise money for the event. Latoya Long, a member of Student Action Council, said her team has collected donations while bagging groceries at Harvey’s supermarkets and online.

Teams will also raise money through activities to be held during the event. VSU’s Phi Beta Lambda (Future Business Leaders of America) will hold a contest titled “Knocking Out Cancer,” which allows participants to compete for a prize in a boxing ring.
“The contest consists of four rounds including face painting, different games and a jump rope and hula hoop contest,” said Valious Smith, a member of Phi Beta Lambda. The last round, which is the knock-out round, will allow participants to face off for the championship in Nintendo Wii’s Just Dance and Fight Night.

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer accounts for nearly one-quarter of deaths in the United States, exceeded only by heart diseases. In 2005, there were 559,312 cancer deaths in the US. The ACS sponsors relays around the country, giving local communities the opportunity to fight cancer, celebrate cancer survivors and remember loved ones lost.



To purchase luminaries or for more information, call (229) 446-1073 or visit www.relayforlife.org/vsu.