Junior biology major Sam Godsey said his reason for joining Relay for Life at first was because a friend invited him during his freshman year. The day after he was recruited, however, his grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and died after four months of fighting the disease.
"It was a very long, painful situation to see her get weaker and weaker and lose her hair," Godsey said. "It's a really, really painful and horrible thing that somebody can go through."
About 40 students were recruited by the end of the Relay for Life Kickoff party Friday night at the Ball State University Museum of Art Ballroom. It was open to any students interested in participating in the fifth-annual Relay for Life at Ball State on April 23 and 24.
The event had free snacks, live music and information about Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. There were also T-shirts, and a table with paper to make Christmas letters to survivors.
Molly Beck, chairperson for the Relay for Life committee, said there will be another kickoff party in February and team-member meetings every other week where students can register. Students can also register their teams online.
Last year 51 teams participated in Ball State's Relay for Life and raised about $35,000. This year's goal is to raise $40,000 and have about 60 teams participating, Beck said.
Teams can come up with their own ideas to raise money for the cause. The money raised will go to the American Cancer Society, Beck said.
"People do anything. They do car washes. They do Halo tournaments; band showcases," she said. "There's a wide variety of activities people do to raise money beforehand."
This is Beck's fifth year participating in Relay for Life. It is her third time as a committee member in the Ball State chapter.
"Cancer affects everyone," she said. "Everybody has a friend, grandmother, grandfather, parent, any sibling that's been affected by cancer and it's all that has just come together in fighting back, that's why I [participate]. It's to fight back and try to find a cure, that's why we are all here."
Godsey said he participated to raise funds for research and because of the bonds that are made between members fighting for the cause.
"There really isn't any other event like this," he said. "You can't explain it without being in the tracks, when you're actually there, you see all those booths and tents and tons of color and all these people that are there for one reason. In every level, it's a great event."
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