On April 7-8, East Tennessee State University will be hosting its fourth annual Relay for Life in the Mini-Dome.
“One out of three people will be diagnosed with cancer,” said Anna Catherine Davenport, a development representative with the American Cancer Society. “Odds are that you have either been personally touched by this disease or someone close to you has. This is your opportunity to do something to change those odds.”
It’s this personal experience with cancer that makes Relay for Life important to junior Emmalea Griffith, a Relay for Life executive board member. “When I was asked to be on the executive committee, I automatically said ‘yes,’ ” Griffith said. “My mom passed away with breast cancer in 1990, when there wasn’t a lot of knowledge about cancer. Ever since I was old enough to know anything about cancer, I’ve always wanted to get involved. This is a great way.”
Last year’s Relay for Life raised $27,700. This year’s goal, however, is to raise $50,000, Griffith and Davenport said.
All of the money raised from Relay for Life goes toward helping the American Cancer Society’s mission of eliminating cancer, Davenport said. Relay for Life helps the American Cancer Society fund research, education, advocacy and patient services. In addition, the money helps fund the American Cancer Society’s web site and telephone hotline that provides up-to-date cancer information to patient 24 hours a day.
“Relay for Life is a great organization that raises money to help find cures, educating people about early diagnosis, and getting people the treatment they need” Griffith said.
One visible example in this area is the funding of ETSU professor Dr. Joel Hillhouse’s research, Davenport said. With an approximate $1.13 million grant, Hillhouse holds the largest research grant in Tennessee.
In addition to raising money for the American Cancer Society’s mission, Relay for Life also provides fun and entertainment for participants.
There will be many activities going on at this year’s Relay for Life, Griffith said, including a date auction, “dude looks like a lady” contest, midnight countdown, New Year’s theme hour, “Miss Relay” competition, musical chairs scavenger hunt, sports theme hours, T-shirt signing contest and relay purple power hour.
Participants will also be able to purchase a luminary for $5 in remembrance or in honor of loved ones who’ve had cancer. A special luminary ceremony will take place at 9 p.m.
“I want to see the Relay grow from last year,” Davenport said. “By that I mean that I want to have more survivors honored at our event, I want to see more people attend and take part in the luminaria ceremony, and I want to raise more money to support the American Cancer Society’s mission.”
The opening ceremony of Relay for Life will be held on April 7 at 7 p.m., and the event will continue until the closing ceremony the next morning at 7.

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