June 4, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Members of the Northwestern University athletic community walked alongside a record 750 participants on May 16-17 for the seventh-annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life event.
Much has changed since Wildcat student-athletes first participated in the Relay for Life event at Northwestern University. The event has since been moved from the Lakeside Fields indoors to the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and the number of participants has more than tripled.
Most exciting, however, has been the change in funds raised. Over the past six years, Northwestern's Relay for Life event has grown from raising $38,127 in the inaugural year to bringing in more than $100,000 this time around. Support continues to stream in, as final fundraising totals won't be known until the event officially ends on August 31.
During the 12-hour event, at least one member of each of the 77 teams present from across campus could be found walking around the elevated indoor track, while other participants had a variety of options to choose from, ranging from basketball games to games of tug-of-war and bean bag toss. The games went on around the giant ring of backpacks and blankets that encircled the gym floor, where other participants could be found playing card games or taking a quick food break before they got back out on the track.
Just as there were a variety of people walking in support of the terrific cause, there were a variety of reasons as to why student-athletes personally participated in the event.
"I just thought that it's a good cause, and a huge part of the society," said first-time Relay for Life participant Annie Reihman, a sophomore on the Northwestern cross country team. She added that she was very impressed by the event and saw it as a way to, "add my little part and help."
Freshman teammate Hallie Busta, also new to participate in the event, said that she felt the event was a great way to encourage those with the disease.
"I know that this event is close to a lot of girls on the team, and I just wanted to show my support," said Busta.
Cross country was not the only athletic team that made a showing at the event, however, as members from nearly all of Northwestern's 19 varsity sports could be found at the event. In fact, the men's basketball program has raised the second-highest total of any campus group to date, bringing in $9,800. Whether it was a soccer player, a swimmer, or a member of the football team, all those present seemed to be having a wonderful time.
"It's really a lot of fun, with so many different things to do," relayed junior football player Sherrick McManis.
"This disease, cancer, is such a huge part of our lives. Coming out and seeing the survivors walk around the track was just great. This is an event that people can come out, show their support and enjoy themselves all at the same time," said McManis.
And enjoy themselves all surely did. From 6 p.m. on Friday night to the early morning hours of the following Saturday, athletes and other students alike came together to make the 2009 Relay for Life at Northwestern University another enormous success.