Relay for Life: WC Students Down to Fight Washington Colleges First Relay for Lif e Event Raises More

e Than $39,000 By Brooke Paulshock Elm Staff Writer Washington College`s first Relay for Life was an unforgettable and extremely suc cessful event. Overall the event raised over $39,000 for cancer research, exceed ing the original goal of $35,000. Relay for Life is a fundraising event of the American Cancer Society where the m ain objective is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients, spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, and remember those who have lost their lives to cancer. After months of planning and organization, sophomore s Caitlyn Riehl and Devin Reilly made it possible for WC to hold its first Relay for Life this past Saturday, April 16, 2011. More than 50 teams were assembled to raise money for the event. Gathering togeth er in the Lifetime Fitness Center from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., the team members exp erienced what junior participant Ann Eickelberg described as one of the best nigh ts at Washington College. The teams rosters were filled with a variety of people including of athletes, fac ulty and staff members, sorority and fraternity members, and many others. For se veral team members this was their first time participating in Relay for Life. Ju nior Rachel Bartee was among those first time participants, saying the night was a very fun and emotional experience. A young boy named Trey, who was diagnosed with bone cancer in high school, began the event as he spoke of the personal experiences he had with cancer. Cancer su rvivors, who were student`s parents, relatives, friends, and many others dear to our hearts, joined the WC community together to celebrate the cause in raising money to find a cure for cancer. The survivors and their caregivers took a lap a round the track, and were soon joined with the rest of the participants. Everyon e came together to celebrate the strength and life of those cancer survivors tha t were present. Many exciting activities were planned throughout the night for all to participat e in. Activities such as Fear Factor, a Chipotle Burrito Eating Contest, Karaoke , and many more were planned to keep the night exciting and full of laughter. Cl ass President Andrew Antonio, who won the title of Ms. Relay (a contest requirin g male students to dress up as women,) raised over $300 in tips. Locks of Love also came to WC, asking for those interested to donate 10 inches o r more of their hair to make wigs for those who lost their hair to cancer. To ev eryone`s surprise, 30 girls ended up donating their hair to Locks of Love. Sopho more Darcy Zinc was one of the girls who donated her hair, not planning on donat ing until seeing what a great cause it went towards and remembering her babysitt er, who was diagnosed with cancer. It feels great knowing that my hair is going to make someone feel the same way my babysitter did. Its amazing to know that there were thirty of us that donated ha ir and I know that our locks will definitely be loved, said Zinc. Team Psyched members Danny Wood and Duncan Leech, took it upon themselves to walk for 12 straight hours, finishing the night with a total of 25.8 miles traveled. Wood said it was a great feeling and I hope that in future years, more students w ill push themselves through fatigues and pain to fight against cancer. Reflecting upon the event and her decision to donate her hair, senior Brittany B

onday said, the turnout was great and the fact that we raised over $39,000 and ha d over thirty girls donate their hair, makes me proud to be a WC student. All the hard work that was put into making this event possible paid off and stud ents are excited for what next years Relay for Life will bring. April 22, 2011 Volume LXXXI Issue 23