Concord Fights for a Cure

There comes a time in every person’s life when they are affected by cancer. For those who don’t know or don’t quite understand, cancer is when your dividing cells begin to divide uncontrollably, resulting in what is known as a tumor. Tumors anywhere are bad news; the unchecked and untreated growth of cancer cells can cause extreme pain and organ failure, and if the dividing cancer cells happen to reach the bloodstream, can travel and infect other parts of the body. However, there’s no need for panic. Cancerous cells are usually caught by the immune system and destroyed before the cancer can become problematic. It is those unfortunate few whose bodies cannot fight off cancer that Concord University was supporting Thursday, April 14 by hosting an American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event.

    Relay for Life is a very special and important event. Founded by Dr. Gordy Klatt in 1985, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life raises funds for important research and treatment with one goal: ridding the world of cancer. This goal is only achievable through donations from charitable events such as the Relay hosted at Concord and over 600 other schools in the nation. The Relay goes further than that, though; each year, over 4 million people around the world help to raise the annual grand total of $400 million dollars that goes towards combatting cancer.

    So what can one expect from the Relay? In addition to exercise, Concord University’s own Relay consisted of fundraising in the forms of concessions, games, face paintings, and t-shirt sales. Student organizations including various fraternities and sororities, the Bonner Scholars, and the BSU helped to make this event possible. In addition to the various fundraising activities, Relay for Life consists of a few respected traditions, such as the Luminaria ceremony, where a candle is lit for all those who have lost their lives to cancer; the Survivors Walk, for those who can stand proudly having beaten their cancer; and the Caregivers Lap, for those brave souls that help with the fight through treatment and care. By the end of the Relay, Concord’s contribution consisted of $6,545.15. Indeed, if organizations such as the American Cancer Society continue to be a global effort for the cause, then within our generation’s lifetime, we may just see the cure for cancer. For more information about the American Cancer Society and the Relay for Life, visit http://relay.acsevents.org/