The University of West Georgia (UWG) Relay for Life was held April 4 in the HPE gym on campus. This year, UWG had 30 teams register and brought in $9,274 and continues to receive donations.
“We are still getting donations even after the event,” said Katherine Baumann, President of the Student Organization and Relay Chair. “Since this is an American Cancer Society event, we will continue to accept donations.”
The event kicked off at 6 p.m. with the survivor walk followed by the opening of all the team’s booths and ended at 6 a.m. on April 5.
“We had about five survivors registered this year,” said Baumann. “Several more virtual survivors which is where anyone can walk in honor of their loved one who cannot physically be at the event.”
This year, the UWG Relay for Life had 30 teams made up of sponsors and other student organizations, which were not registered as teams through Relay, come and represent at the event. These teams were student organizations, families or local businesses. Student organizations brought homemade items, such as cupcakes, cookies, hair ties and headbands, drinks and Chick-Fil-A and sold it with all proceeds going to Relay for Life.
“We had a committee of about 25 students and had about 50 volunteers throughout the school year,” said Baumann. “These people are there to help fundraise for Relay and also to help prepare the event.”
Last year, the UWG Relay committee started using an iPad for the use credit/debit cards for donations. This allowed students to run their cards for the amount that they wanted to donate and they could receive ‘monopoly money’ that they could spend on the organization’s items. The committee saw an increased use of this form of donations instead of the normal cash donations.
Students and teachers were able to purchase luminary bags, white or purple, that lined the track both before the event at the blood drive on campus and at the event. These luminaries are bought for those who have lost their fight with cancer.
“We start planning the event before school starts each year beginning in August. We hold monthly committee meetings and talk about everything from logistics, to fundraising, to entertainment at the event,” said Baumann. “We also spent a lot of time throughout the school year to raise money and hold several fundraisers for Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.”
During the event, participants were encouraged to walk the track or participate in the Relay games. The Relay team provided musical entertainment from the WOLF Internet Radio. Activities to participate in included relays, scavenger hunts and the option to pie a student in the face for a dollar.
The UWG Relay for life team is still available and you are still able to donate through the Relay for Life website and the UWG Relay for Life Facebook.
