UCF’s Relay for Life hosts Kickoff

No one should have to say goodbye to his or her loved ones earlier than necessary.

That was the primary outlook of the more than 150 people who attended the 2011 UCF American Cancer Society Relay for Life Spring Kickoff  on Feb .1 in the Student Union.

More than 75 teams signed up to participate in the relay by the end of the kickoff.  

Relay for Life starts at 5 p.m. on April 1 and ends at 11 a.m. on April 2.

"The money that we really raise is based on the fundraising that the teams do," said Jenna Bonazinca, a community representative for the American Cancer Society. "A team usually has fifteen people, and we usually suggest that they raise a hundred dollars a person, so usually a team raises about fifteen hundred dollars."

Bonazinca said that the relay raised about $86,000 last year. This year, the event is expected to bring in $92,000. There is a $100 registration fee for teams, which allows them to have an area to place a tent.

Bonazinca said that beyond this fee, teams are encouraged to raise $100 per person.

Each team is required to have one representative participating in the relay at all times. The relay begins with a survivor's lap, a time in which cancer survivors are encouraged to take a lap together and celebrate their achieved victories. There will also be a luminaria ceremony, in which candles are lit inside bags filled with sand. Each bag has the name of a person affected by cancer.

The funds raised at this event and at others go towards research, advocacy, education and patient services. One of the unique initiatives paid for through this fundraising is ACS's Look Good … Feel Better program, where ACS sends trained professionals to local hospitals to give cancer patients style and beauty tips.

"We have licensed cosmetologists come in, and they give a certain amount of makeup to all of the cancer patients, and then they teach them how to apply it," Bonazinca said. "It's just helpful, and it lifts their spirits, and they get free makeup, so it's a great program that we have."

Tyler Moose, vice-event chair for the UCF Relay for Life, participates because of his personal experiences.

When Moose was stationed in Japan for three years with his father, a Marine, his uncle was diagnosed with cancer and died one month after Moose returned to the U.S.

Unfortunately, this would not be the only time one of his family members was affected by cancer.

"About a year and a half ago, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer," Moose said. "I had my firsthand experience seeing what it does to people."

Moose said that he was there with his grandfather to help him as he battled this disease and celebrated with him when he was cancer-free, which is another reason why he participates in Relay for Life.

Moose has participated in this event for more than five years, and that this is his first year on the Relay for Life committee.

About 8,000 people are expected to attend this year's relay, according to Moose.

Sophomore molecular biology and microbiology major Thomas Brown attended the kickoff and will be serving as the captain of the Beta Theta Pi team.

Brown said he participated in Relay for Life in high school and was excited to be able to participate in college as well.

He said that, on a personal level, he has known people who have either had cancer or died as a result, and that it motivated him to become captain his team.

"It's good for the fraternity to go out there and be a part of something," Brown said.  "It's not really required, but its something that we all like to do and participate in."

For more information, visit the Relay for Life website ww.relayforlifefl.org/ucffl.