Adelphi Bucket List: Attend Relay for Life

Relay for Life is one of Adelphi's biggest community engagement events. Here, we have Ambassador Jena speak about her experiences at Relay for Life and what Relay for Life not only means to her, but to the whole Adelphi community. 

"Cancer Never Sleeps, So Neither Do We"

A view of the Luminaria bags during the Adelphi Luminaria Walk

According to the American Cancer Society, Relay for life is “the world’s largest and most impactful fundraising event to end cancer.” This past year, Adelphi’s Relay for Life took place in our Center for Recreation and Sport on April 9th. The twelve hour event raised over $68,000 for the American Cancer Society. Relay celebrates the survivors and their families, and it also serves to remember the loved ones who have been lost. As someone who had recently lost an aunt after her four year long battle, it was important for me to represent her life and the hard battle she had fought.

Relay allows for cancer survivors, some of which are professors and students at the university, and family members to speak about their experiences - however difficult, enlightening, or even life-changing those experiences may be. The most poignant part of the event is the Luminaria Ceremony. Participants personalize hundreds of stark white Luminaria bags to reflect those who they are honoring - whether it be a parent or grandparent, a neighbor or a friend. Just as the sun sets, the only source of light illuminates from each bag that traces our indoor track. It’s a hauntingly beautiful sight as participants walk in silence.

AU Evolution Hip Hop Dance Team performing at Relay for Life

As emotional as Relay may be, the students and Center for Student Involvement recognize that this is a time to celebrate life and the memories of those lost. Student organizations like AU Sapna, AU Evolution Hip Hop Dance Team, Cheerleading, and Paws and Rewind A Cappella group dedicated uplifting performances and skits to energize the crowd. During “Miss Relay: Drag Show”, male students dressed in drag and participated in their own entertaining beauty pageant to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Our 2016 Miss Relay Participants

As simple as it may seem to those of us with healthy hair, women experiencing hair loss as a result of chemotherapy oftentimes find themselves feeling less beautiful. With the help of Pantene Beautiful Lengths, students can donate a minimum of 8 inches of hair to be made into wigs for cancer patients. Donating my hair seemed like a rewarding way I could contribute to Relay. Imagine sitting in a chair, along with twenty or so others, as hundreds of people around you watch as you get a haircut. My friend Karla Hernandez was kind enough to take on the task of cutting off my 9 inch ponytail. It may seem silly to have been exhilarated as well as terrified to get a few inches of hair cut off, but it was the least I could do to honor my aunt.

[From Left to Right] Ambassadors Karla and Jena after the hair cutting ceremony

As one of our biggest fundraisers and events on campus, Relay for Life is an essential part of involving yourself within the Adelphi community. Not only are you helping others, but you're also learning just how strong and unified Adelphi University is.