This weekend's Relay for Life event at LaFollette Field represented eighteen hours of vigilance in honor and memory of those affected by cancer.
Compared to last year's event, there was more leadership, participation and giving, Relay for Life Chair Lyndsey Adams said. Students raised close to $28,000 for cancer research, about $8,000 more than last year, Adams said. Fifty-one teams participated, 15 more than last year, she said.
Adams, a junior at Ball State, is passionate about Relay because she is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with cancer during her senior year of high school.
"When I came to Ball State, I wanted to become involved in Colleges Against Cancer," Adams said. "I needed an outlet."
Freshman Stephen Janssen vowed he was not going to sleep Friday night during Relay because, as he said, "Cancer never sleeps." He was declared a cancer survivor on the Monday after being diagnosed last year.
"I jumped in on two feet," Janssen said. "At the captains' meeting, I was welcomed with opened arms. I was helping, but I wanted to do more, so I got involved with the committee."
Janssen's team alone raised $2,200. Janssen is a nursing major and said he wants to work at Riley Children's Hospital.
"I've been there so much this year, I already know all the people there," Janssen said.
Various ceremonies took place this weekend that accompanied the universal Relay for Life theme, "Celebrate. Remember. Fight back." The celebration ceremony took place Friday at 7 p.m. During the remembrance ceremony, luminary bags were lit around the track at LaFollette Field, honoring people who have had cancer. Also at that time, participants were invited to walk a lap of silence around the track.
On Saturday morning, pledges were made at the fight back ceremony, including pledges to quit smoking and other harmful habits.
The Relay event was interrupted by a bomb threat at LaFollette Complex about 2 a.m. University Police secured residents in place, and the Relay event was temporarily moved to Worthen Arena.
"There was a lot of commotion," Adams said. "We did the fight back ceremony in the gym, and people continued walking around thetrack inside the arena."
Freshman Lindsay Gregory said the event is symbolic of a cancer patient's journey while battling the disease.
"Just like our walk, you start in the light, and then you get tired and things get dark, but you push through," Gregory said.
Sophomores Kim Richardson and Julia Hill are second-year participants who decided to be team captains this year.
"I've known people in my family who have been affected by cancer, and this is my chance to honor them and give back," Richardson said. "This year I was more successful with fundraising. I feel like I'm doing something that's going to make a difference."
Hill was invited by a friend to participate last year and decided to be a team captain this year.
"The silent lap was my favorite part, just seeing all the people walking in front and behind you," Hill said.
Freshman Jenna Dormer and half a dozen members of the Swing Society participated in Relay after the Swing Ball on Friday night.
"It was a good cause, and I got to spend more time with my friends," Dormer said.
The Swing Society was represented with walkers throughout the night, even after four hours of dancing.
Relay for Life at Ball State is organized completely by students and is separate from the Delaware County Relay. Adams said that in a few weeks the committee will start planning for next year's event.
"I'm glad the weather was nice. I think everything went really well this year," Adams said.
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