UP’s Relay for Life program now has 38 teams, hopes for 55 by late April
Senior Chris Vennes (Jackie Jeffers | The Beacon)
By Rose Hoonan, Staff Writer -- hoonan15@up.edu
"It's so surreal," senior and UP Relay for Life executive board member Kelsey Siekkinen said. "You think it only happens to the people you don't know."
Siekkinen realized how common cancer was when, at the age of 18, her boyfriend – now a cancer survivor – was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Since then, Siekkinen has lost two uncles to cancer.
"It's devastating, but watching them fight back is amazing," Siekkinen said. "They all had great attitudes, and it made me look up to them. These experiences made me not only want to give back, but to look into education and prevention of the disease."
In her efforts to give back, Siekkinen is now a member of The Lifesavers Relay for Life team.
The Lifesavers are one of 38 UP Relay for Life teams – around 500 people – who are working to raise funds and cancer awareness.
The organization hopes to reach 55 teams by the day of the walk, April 20. They will walk in teams for 18 hours, using UP's academic quad as a track.
"Many people who are on Relay for Life teams have experienced a loved one go through cancer, or have had cancer themselves," Siekkinen said. "But there are also people who participate just because they want to."
Senior Chris Vennes, the fundraising director for UP's Relay for Life, first got involved with Relay for Life eight years ago when his grandmother died of breast cancer. During the summer before his freshman year his best friend Danny was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare cancer that invades the bone and soft tissue.
"Danny fought a long, tough battle with cancer, and I sat with him every step of the way," Vennes said. "I visited him at the hospital and helped drive him to radiation treatments. Danny's fight lasted until last March, when he passed away."
These experiences inspired Vennes to participate in Relay for Life.
"They are the reason I continue to commit my time and energy to Relay (for Life)," Vennes said. "It is a chance to remember those we have lost to cancer."
Senior Michelle Reynolds, who is in charge of team recruitment for UP's Relay for Life program, got involved with Relay for Life her freshman year.
"I knew nothing about it, but my roommate was a part of it and encouraged me to get involved," Reynolds said. "I didn't originally join because of someone I knew had been affected by cancer, but I think cancer affects everyone."
To raise money for the American Cancer Society, UP's Relay for Life teams fundraise individually and as teams.
Siekkinen's team, The Lifesavers, recently held a fundraiser to celebrate Valentine's Day, collecting money by selling cards, flowers and candy for the American Cancer Society.
"The Valentine's (Day) fundraiser was pretty successful," Siekkinen said. "We sold over 20 valentines, which meant we made about $60 for Relay."
This fundraiser is one of many ways the teams collect money to support cancer research. The Relay for Life executive board also plans to do a volleyball tournament in March. They have partnership rights with restaurants like Burgerville and Panda Express, and on certain nights a portion of the profits will be donated to Relay for Life.
Each person participating in Relay for Life is encouraged to raise $100 to receive a T-shirt, but many exceed those expectations.
"On average, each participant raises $100 to $200," Siekkinen said. "But there are some who raise around $2,000."
Siekkinen, Vennes and Reynolds see importance in being a part of UP's Relay for Life.
"Supporting the American Cancer Society is really neat, because they don't focus on one type of cancer," Reynolds said. "And, (the American Cancer Society) makes it really easy for universities to get involved."
"Relay for Life provides a great community and support system," Siekkinen said. "It's important to have an outlet on campus for students to be able to give back."
"We are the largest student fundraiser and working towards a very real cause," Vennes said. "Cancer has affected everyone's lives in some way. Relay at UP gives all the chance to fight back in a unified cause."
With all of their efforts to fight back, Vennes sees a bright future for finding a cure for cancer.
"I have a shirt in my room for a Relay for Life college conference," Vennes said. "On the back it reads ‘The generation that will cure cancer.' I believe that we will see a cure for cancer in our lifetime and Relay at UP is a good start to making this happen."
