Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF students raised more than $82,000 during the weekend in Relay for Life.

Nearly 2,000 Syracuse University and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry students participated in the event from Friday at 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday. Students from various campus organizations formed groups, and then took turns throughout the night walking the track in the Carrier Dome.

Of the amount raised, about $10,400 was raised at the event and the rest came from online donations, said Nick Palmateer, a junior biotechnology major who is on the Relay for Life planning committee at Syracuse University. Palmateer said it was his third time participating in Relay at SU, but this year seemed to have the best turnout yet.

“To look down at the turf around 9 p.m. and see everyone having such a good time and see the entire turf packed is so rewarding,” he said.

For some, Relay has meaning beyond just raising money to help fight cancer.

It’s an event that can become a tradition and a support system for students like Sara Freund, a senior writing and rhetoric major and participant in this year’s Relay.  Freund has been a part of Relay since middle school, and has a very personal connection to the event.

Freund’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and went through radiation and chemotherapy at the end of Freund’s sophomore year. While she was at home spending time with her mother during treatment, Freund said she realized how important an event like Relay for Life is.

“It’s for the people who have had cancer, who are battling it, and who we’ve lost,” she said. “It’s about celebrating them and giving them hope while we try to find a cure for this disease.”

Freund described Relay for Life as being fun and stressful, but seeing cancer survivors in attendance makes everything worth it.

Elizabeth Lafontaine, a senior at SU who served as the event’s co-chair, said she was happy with both the overall turnout and the number of people who stayed for the entire night.

Planning for Relay for Life began in September, Lafontaine said, adding that it was difficult at times since the event is so dependent on participation. The planning committee began setting up in the Dome on Thursday night, and continued Friday afternoon until doors opened.

Lafontaine said the event is important because it gives organizations such as sports teams, greek organizations and dorm communities the opportunity to come together to fight cancer. She said the event’s setting adds to the experience.

“It gives an unusual opportunity to campout in the Carrier Dome with other students not needing to worry about getting seats for a sporting event,” she said.

Even for first-time participants, the event still had meaning. While nobody in Sarah Schuster’s family has dealt with cancer recently, she said that didn’t make being a part of Relay for Life any less emotional.

Schuster, a junior magazine journalism major and a former Daily Orange staff writer, participated in Relay for Life for the first time Friday night. She said her high school had a similar event, and thought it would be something good to take part in.

“I have a connection to cancer through people not even in my family and got choked up talking about it,” she said.

Schuster added that an event like Relay for Life connects those who have been affected by cancer and provides a way for them to unite in support of cancer research.

Palmateer said he has friends and family who have had cancer, and being from a small town he said when cancer affects one person, it affects everyone close to them.

He said the portion of the evening dedicated to honoring and remembering those who have dealt with cancer is an emotional highlight, and makes all the work as part of the planning committee worth it.

Seven months after planning began for this year’s Relay for Life and 12 hours after the event officially began, Lafontaine said there were still around 100 people on the track — they were still running to honor and remember those affected by cancer, and still running to raise money for a cure.

Published on April 7, 2014 at 1:37 am

Contact Brett: blsamuel@syr.edu | @Brett_Samuels27