SU Hosts 14th Relay For Life April 24-25

SALISBURY, MD---Since 2002, Salisbury University’s Relay For Life has raised over $1 million for the American Cancer Society (ACS). The goal for this year’s 14th event: continue the push towards $2 million.

SU’s Relay is consistently among the top collegiate Relays in the nation, and organizers anticipate another highly successful event. Opening ceremonies for the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser begin 6 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Maggs Physical Activities Center. Closing ceremonies are 6 a.m. Saturday, April 25. This year’s theme is “One World, One Hope: Relaying Around The World.” SU students Amanda Vancleemput, Jordan Helmey and Jessica Colucci co-chair the event.

Cancer survivors from campus and the greater community are invited to participate in a survivors lap and reception, sponsored by the Salisbury University Foundation, Inc., immediately following opening ceremonies. Survivors also may opt to be a virtual survivor and be recognized without attending the event. Other activities include the Miss Relay pageant, silent auction, Zumba, on-site haircuts for Locks of Love and live performances from SU student groups such as Squawkappella and Poms. To register for the survivors lap and other activities, visit www.relayforlife.org/sumd and click “Sign Up,” then “Walk the Survivor Lap.”

More than 60 teams representing over 1,000 SU students, faculty, staff, families and community members are expected to participate in the 2015 Relay. More than $30,000 has been raised so far, with more expected through the evening of the event. All proceeds benefit cancer research, education, patient services and advocacy programs. Last year’s donations topped $100,000.

“I love Relay because it brings our campus and local communities together for one night to raise money and awareness in a fun and entertaining way. It makes it so easy to make a big difference without realizing it,” said Helmey. “Not only is it a great cause to be a part of; it is an experience you can’t get anywhere else.”

SU has twice been named one of only 20 “Leaders of Hope” by Colleges Against Cancer, an ACS program that unites college students, faculty and staff from more than 300 campuses in the fight against cancer. SU also was named CAC’s “Rookie of the Year” Relay chapter, and the University’s CAC chapter won a 2008 Outstanding Advocacy Award, one of only six honors given nationwide.

In 2011, the ACS honored SU for its “Outstanding Administration Support” of Relay. Last year, SU received the Excellence in Student Service Group Award and the ACS South Atlantic Division Top Collegiate Fundraising Award.

The ACS is a community-based organization dedicated to eliminating cancer through efforts such as Relay For Life, which in the past two decades has spread to more than 4,500 U.S. communities and 12 foreign countries.

For more information or to register visit the SU Relay website at www.relayforlife.org/sumd.