Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Photo by Eric Zitz
Photo montage by Colleen Peterson

Walk for the cure

By Tracey Pisciotta

By hosting Relay for Life on April 12, VWC helped honor cancer survivors and memorialized those who have passed on. Wesleyan teamed up with the VWC club and the American Cancer Society to raise funds to fight cancer in Hampton Roads. The event was held in the Batten Convocation Center on April 12 from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m. on April 13.

“It was a lot of fun, but moving at the same time,” said sophomore Eric Zitz. “We definitely made more than our goal, which was $10,000.”

VWC and the American Cancer Society raised a total of $13,000. The money was raised during a 12-hour, carnival-like event filled with a variety of table games, music and performances by the Virginia Wesleyan cheerleaders and a few boys in drag.

“Each team had a table, each with a different game and a way to raise money,” said sophomore Nathanael Swann. “Beta Beta Beta, the biology honor society, held Gatorade pong at their table. I had never played before, but I won, so apparently I’m good at it.”

Each team sets a fundraising goal. Within each team, individuals have a link that corresponds to the American Cancer Society. From there, the individual sends out e-mails to friends and family, asking them to donate money. The donor would then click on the individual’s link and donate. That would in turn go into team’s account, where they could watch the dollars rise.

“Throughout the day, one person from each team walked around the track,” said Zitz. “Some were walking slowly, some fast, but most set a goal for how long or how far they would walk for. It was a lot of fun. If you weren’t walking, you were down on the gym playing basketball, soccer, table games or listening to music.”

The 12 hours spent in the gym were an emotional roller coaster for some, filled with laughter and tears. New memories were made and old ones of those who were lost were savored.

There were special walks that were designated for cancer survivors only or those currently fighting it. There was a candlelight ceremony to memorialize loved ones lost to cancer. This ceremony took place in a span of 10 minutes. At 1:30 a.m., a staff set out bags filled with candles around the track. Each bag had the name of a life lost and a message left by family members.

“My favorite part was the candle ceremony,” said Zitz. “It was really pretty. My sister Jenna and I lost our grandfather due to cancer, so we had candle lit for him.”

Everyone gathered around the gym and walked around solemnly, honoring each candle to poetry read aloud. Many knelt and recited a prayer or a poem.

“It touched a lot of people,” said Swann. “By looking around you saw a lot of tearing eyes.”

Amanda Wolk is president of the Relay for Life club at VWC and the reason the event was held for the first time on campus.

“Amanda did a wonderful job,” said Zitz. “I don’t know if she was stressed out all week, but that day she was calm and there for each team, making sure everything was in order and everyone was comfortable. It was extremely successful.”

“This first on-campus Relay being such a success, I think the tradition will stay with Wesleyan,” said Wolk. “I have received many compliments from students and faculty about the event. It is encouraging to know that people around here care enough to raise over $13,000 for the American Cancer Society.”

A lot of people from the community came together and supported the event. Relay for Life received donations for prizes as well as pizza and sandwiches. Even the mayor of Virginia Beach, Meyera Oberndorf, came to help out and support the cause.

“I’m really looking forward to next year’s event,” said Swann. “It will be a lot bigger and a lot better, now that we have had the first time experience.”