Sophomore Grace Pittner grimaces after senior, Relay for Life Co-Chair
Will Block hits her with a water ballon on Saturday afternoon.
The 12 hour event raised more than $55,000 towards cancer research.
SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW

This past Saturday for 12 hours, members of the Putnam County community came together to support the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life hosted at DePauw University’s outdoor track.

Relay for Life continues to raise money throughout the year for cancer research, and each spring a day is dedicated to raising awareness to community as well as remembering those who have been lost to the disease and recognizing those who have survived.

“It’s amazing to see an event that really brings both the campus and community together to fight a terrible disease,” senior and event co-chair Will Block said.

This year the event was held outdoors instead of at DePauw’s indoor track like previous years. Senior and co-chair of Relay, Emily Haight said moving the venue outside definitely made a difference. 

“The area [outside] is larger, so there was more space for all of the activities we had planned, and there were a lot of people who stopped by from the sporting events that wouldn't have seen it if it had been inside,” Haight said. “And we couldn't have asked for better weather.”

Junior and Relay Committee member Ashley Sipe enjoyed the warm weather during relay.

“I liked it a lot better outside because it was a different atmosphere, everyone was outside playing games and enjoying the beautiful weather.”

Members of the community participated in activities such as karate, eating contests and a luminary ceremony.

Along with these events running throughout the day two DePauw students, Austin Luckett and Emily Shy took their time to attend Relay and tell their personal stories and how they have been affected by cancer.

Luckett, a first-year, opened up to the Putnam County community, and shared his personal story.

“I loved giving my speech on Saturday, but I will say if was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life,” Luckett said.

He has been involved with Relay for Life for the last 15 years after he was treated for localized soft tissue cancer when he was just four years old.

“It is hard to tell someone the story of your experience when you can't remember it all. My parents on the other hand could tell you every detail,” Luckett said. “Many other survivors and caregivers could give you their full story, but I can only give you pieces of mine.”

Emily Shy, a sophomore, also shared her story with those who attended.

“I was diagnosed October 19, 2012 with Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It was my senior year of high school, and I turned 18 two days after the date of my diagnosis,” Shy explained.

After nearly five months of chemo, and two weeks of radiation therapy Shy is less than a month free from being two years in remission.

One of the last activities during Relay for Life includes the Luminaria ceremony.

It’s a ceremony of light, which occurs to remember those who have been lost from the disease and support those who have survived cancer.

In the final hours of the event, during the Luminaria ceremony, Luckett and Shy joined several other survivors in a lap around the track.

Reflecting on the ceremony Shy said: “The lap lead by the survivors that they do at the end always means so much to me. It was so cool for me to walk that track.”

Although Haight and Block agree that the event was an overall success they are still waiting to total the final amount of money raised. However, according to Haight, as of Saturday the total was around $55,000.

Block was happy with how many people from Putnam County participated in the event.

“It’s amazing to see an event that really brings both the [DePauw] campus and community together to fight a terrible disease,” said Block.

Shy emphasized that Relay for Life is a very important event that has helped her cope with cancer and bring awareness to others.

“We can make a difference with the funds raised and we can make a difference in our own emotional healing by remembering and focusing on what we've lost and what we've gained.”