Jackie Loeshelle, Relay for Life Ceremonies Chair, relays for her grandfather, who passed away from skin cancer.
Bridget Doran, a Relay for Life Team Co-Captain, relays for her mom, a victim of brain cancer.
Claudia Pagán, a Relay for Life participant, relays for those she knows who have friends and family that have been affected by cancer.
Victoria Starr, Relay for Life Finance Chair, relays for her grandmother, who’s been touched by cancer.
These four women, among hundreds of others, came together on Saturday for the same cause: to fight cancer.
Relay for Life is a 12-hour event where participants walk a track in a continuous relay. Other events occurred during the day, like soccer games, obstacles courses, laser tag, volleyball matches, and a giant hamster ball, called a Zorb, in the center of the field. Throughout the day, a variety of events graced the main stage; the Prima Dolls and Phunktions danced, Generics sang, and Erasable Inc. improvised.
The event began with the opening ceremony at 4 p.m., where a survivor shared the story of her brave battle with cancer. The Survivor Lap, where cancer survivors and caretakers walked a lap, while other participants lined the track in support, followed her speech.
Loeshelle’s favorite part of the event was the Ms. Relay pageant, where guys dress up like girls, competing for a Chipotle gift card, and raising money in the process.
Another event on the main stage was sunset yoga, led by CHAARG executive member Lexie Fine. CHAARG, which stands for Changing Health Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls, is a health and fitness organization for college girls, new to Maryland’s campus.
Pagán, CHAARG President, enjoyed spending time with her friends, and exercising in the name of a great cause.
For many though, the luminaria ceremony was the most-awaited part of the evening.
“The luminaria ceremony is my favorite part of the night,” Starr said. “It’s probably the most emotional part of the night but it really brings people together. It’s what makes it worth it.”
Luminarias were available for purchase throughout the day for $10. Participants were encouraged to decorate the white paper bags in memory of someone who’d been affected by cancer.
At 9 p.m., candles were distributed to the participants and the lit luminarias lined the track.
Junior Sarah Henry spoke to the audience as she shared her story. The audience was touched when hearing about the many lives she knew that had been taken by cancer.
Following Henry’s speech, participants walked the track in memory of those that had lost their battle and those that are still fighting.
Later in the evening, Maryland professor Patricia Shields told her courageous story. Shields battled cancer twice, she said, and the support of her husband and her students kept her going.
The University of Maryland unified on Saturday, raising over $76,000 for the American Cancer Society. Hundreds of people showed their support for everyone touched by cancer.
Relay For Life is more than simply walking around a track; it is an event where loved ones who have won their battle against cancer are celebrated and those no longer alive are remembered.
The Relay For Life movement gives everyone an opportunity to come together to make a difference and fight back, with hope that together we can finish the fight and discover a cure for cancer.
All photos taken by Tessa Trach