Members of the NOVA Relay for Life Board meet to discuss the upcoming event at the Annandale campus.

“Relay never stops because cancer never stops” is the slogan and theme of the Relay for Life, the flagship fundraiser of the American CancerSociety. The event, which started at NOVA in 2002, allows students to channel the passion of those words and continue to make an impact in the war against cancer. For two nights, on April 17 and 18, over 170 registered students making up 26 teams will honor the lives of those with cancer through joining in the planned activities.

Phi Theta Kappa starts planning the event near the start of the fall semester. However, students can join the race anytime they wish until the event begins at 7 p.m. the evening of April 17. They can run, walk, and volunteer the evening of the event, and participate in a silent auction or the Mr. Relay Beauty pageant.

If they can’t make the Relay for Life event itself, they can attend an annual Fashion Show the first week in April or help paint the Annandale campus purple – the official ribbon color representing all cancers –during the second week in April.

The Relay for Life began in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash. when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, walked for 24 hours around a track to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

The event started when Phi Theta Kappa chose the Cancer Society as the national charity their group would support. PTK’s president at the time, Margaret Reed, decided that NOVA’s Annandale PTK would host the first Relay for Life held at any college in the metro Washington, DC area. She has led the event every year since and is still very proud to be chairperson of the event. She is now an adjunct professor of history at Annandale and a breast cancer survivor.

When the event first started 10 teams totaling 110 people raised $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, 170 people have registered as of March 31.

Students will have an opportunity, not only to walk or run around the track at the Annandale campus, but also to participate in a silent auction, the luminaria event (lighting candles for cancer patients and survivors) and the Mr. Relay pageant contest, where one man is able to dress up in ‘evening gown’ apparel, perform a special talent and collect donations. The man who collects the most money from folks watching the pageant to donate to the American Cancer Society wins the coveted crown and title of Mr. Relay.

Events for the Relay begin at 5:30 p.m. on April 17 with a special reception to honor cancer survivors. The silent auction will take place from 8 to 9 p.m. One can still register to participate in the Relay for Life online or by making a donation. There is a $10 registration fee and a fundraising minimum of $100 is suggested. Cancer Survivors wishing to participate have the option to receive a purple T-shirt when they register.
More information on the NOVA Relay for Life Event is at acsevents.com.

By: Emily Pfister

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