The sixth annual Florida A&M University Relay For Life was held Friday night as 42 school-related and local organizations came together to walk FAMU’s track. Some organizations also put on performances and raised money in effort to help fight cancer.
As music was playing and different organizations were entertaining the crowd, many students said they felt a sense of togetherness.
“Relay for Life is a positive event that brings people together to raise awareness and money for a good cause,” said Amanda Byrd, 22, Relay for Life event chair.
From Greek organizations to local campus clubs, students of all walks of life were up all night walking the track in an effort to fight cancer.
“I am here on behalf of the California Club and I am here to support those who have passed away from cancer and those who are trying to fight cancer now,” said Tamara Angcos, 20, a junior business administration student from Los Angeles.
Many gave their reason for attending Relay for Life.
Bethany Jones, president of the Beta Alpha chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., said the reason her organization was out all night relaying was to show support to an event that was initially started by a Delta as well as support an issue that has affected members of the sorority nationwide.
“A lot of DST members have been directly affected by cancer and this is a good event that was started by a Delta in hope to fight cancer and inform people on how serious the disease is,” Jones said
Besides members of clubs and Greek organizations, other students were also out on the track representing and supporting the fight against cancer.
Relay for Life is an event that is coordinated by FAMU students and seemed very organized, said Jozlyn Gardner, 20, a junior Spanish language student from Live Oak.
“This student-coordinated event seems very organized, and I know that any money that I donate is going to a good cause,” Gardner said.
Relay for Life was a “heart-warming night,” said Dominique Hackett, 23, a fifth-year MBA student from Detroit.
“Earlier in the night everyone circled on the track, held hands and prayed for the descendants as well as the survivors of cancer, and at that moment in time, my heart was touched,” Hackett said.
Followed by the prayer, two cancer survivors spoke on their experience with battling cancer as well as the barriers they faced while fighting the disease.
One cancer survivor reminisced about how she got “picked on in school for having no hair because of her chemo therapy treatments.”
Overall, the event raised more than $30,000, which is going to the American Cancer Society for research and treatment for cancer patients in Leon County.
Byrd, 22, said the reason she was so motivated to coordinate Relay for Life in the first place was to create a night where everyone can “walk one track, for one night, for one purpose as one FAMU.”