Community members carve and smash pumpkins during
the Relay for Life Kickoff Event Wednesday afternoon.
LILY BURBA / THE DEPAUW
The air was filled with the smell of pumpkins and the sound of laughter as the DePauw Relay For Life Kick Off event took place on Wednesday afternoon. Students flocked to Bowman Park to take in the cool fall air and have fun, all while helping to raise money for cancer research.
Relay For Life is a 12-hour event, which aims to raise money and increase awareness for cancer research. It seeks to honor people who have battled cancer, both those who have survived and those who did not.
Despite the chilly weather and the others events taking place on campus at the time, co-chair of Relay For Life of Putnam County senior Emily Haight said that there was a great turnout for the event and that it seemed like those who came were having a great time.
First-year student Denisse Abreu agreed, stating “It was a fun way to do something good for the community.”
The organizers chose to have the campus kickoff on Wednesday to tie it into Halloween and help raise awareness of their cause.
Attendees at the kickoff could carve a pumpkin for two dollars or smash a pumpkin for five dollars. Participants were encouraged to carve their pumpkin in a way that related to Relay For Life or cancer in some way. The Relay-related pumpkins were entered into a contest and the winner received a gift card to Myers’ Market. In addition to the festivities, there was also pizza, cookies and pumpkin pie. There was also a table set up for students to donate to Relay For Life or sign up to participate in the event this coming spring.
Pieces of smashed pumpkins in Bowman Park after
the DePauw / Putnam County Realy for Life Kick Off
Wednesday afternoon.
LILY BURBA / THE DEPAUW
Relay For Life is not a new organization on campus. This is at least the 17th year for the DePauw University/Putnam County Relay For Life. A typical Relay at DePauw raises about $130,000, and the organizers of this year’s event hope to match that amount. DePauw’s efforts in fundraising through Relay For Life consistently place our campus among the highest grossing college campuses per capita. Relay For Life is also one of the highest grossing organizations on DePauw’s campus for fundraising. Over the years, DePauw has raised over $2 million for cancer research through Relay.
Wednesday’s event was just the first of many campus events that will take place leading up to Relay For Life. Co-chair Will Block says that there will definitely be more fundraising and awareness events, especially during the spring semester.
The DePauw/ Putnam County Relay For Life will be held May 2, 2015 from noon to midnight at the outdoor track. Though it may seem a long way away, the co-chairs urge students to start planning their participation in Relay. To sign up or donate, visit relayforlife.org and search for DePauw, or email relayforlife@depauw.edu. According to the Relay For Life website, members of the DePauw and Putnam County community have already raised almost $1500 for this year’s event, and the total continues to grow every day.