GENESEO, N.Y.— “Small, but mighty.”
Those are the words SUNY Geneseo’s Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) uses to describe SUNY Geneseo and its students, and the 12th annual Relay for Life event on April 8 at the Wilson Ice Arena lived up to the description.
In support of the American Cancer Society (ACS), the student-run event raised $160,173.25 for both cancer research and services for cancer patients. CAC determined that half of the money would go toward funding cancer research and the other half toward sustaining the Look Good Feel Better program, the Hope Lodge, Road to Recovery and a 24/7 hotline.
Geneseo consistently ranks highest in the state for Relay for Life fundraising. In 2016, Geneseo was ranked as the No. 11 Collegiate Relay for Life in the country after raising more than $173,000.
With more than 2,000 Relay for Life participants this year, the president and coordinator of CAC, senior Ashley Buttice, is confident that Geneseo will remain nationally ranked among the top 25 college Relay for Life events.
“Our event this year was a huge success, and I think the event itself was our best Relay yet,” said Buttice. “Even though we didn't meet our fundraising goal [of $180,000], we still raised an incredible amount of money to go toward the American Cancer Society and all of the services and research opportunities they provide.”
The schedule was packed with many exciting and entertaining events. In addition to performances by groups like Geneseo Bhangra, Geneseo’s OriGinal Xpressions, Geneseo’s Irish Dance Group Sláinte, Geneseo’s dance team Knightline and Geneseo a capella groups, there were also workshops for participants to enjoy throughout the schedule. This included a Bhangra workshop and a Knightline workshop.
“I really just think one of the great things about Relay is the sense of community and also just remembering that we are all coming together because of cancer; whether you lost someone or you’re just fundraising to fight it back in general, you’re celebrating something, and just that is one thing that is uniting so many groups of people,” said Buttice.
This year’s Relay for Life theme of outer space encompassed the mission. The slogan “Kick Cancer Out of this World” reminded participants that all the individual and group contributions help to further the fight against cancer.
As a part of the event, President Denise A. Battles delivered the keynote at 6:30 p.m. There were additional speeches given throughout the night as part of the Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back ceremonies, all of which highlighted the sense of community in bringing participants together through Relay. For example, the Celebrate ceremony included Amanda Flannery ’09 and cancer survivor Brian Creary ’06, who were Geneseo students and married after graduating.
“I think the important thing to get out of the event is to show what a great and supportive community we have at Geneseo and that there are different areas for different support groups on campus,” said junior Grace Rowan, vice president of CAC.
It was impossible not to feel the strength of support with such events as Shave for the Brave, where participants shaved their heads in solidarity for cancer patients who lose their hair after receiving chemotherapy treatment.
“It’s really cool to see everyone come together at Relay for the fight against cancer, because everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer, and it’s something that we don’t really talk about because it’s the forbidden word—that’s how it was 30 years ago,” said Rowan. “I think it’s really great that we have a place where you can talk about it—where you can remember or celebrate milestones and more birthdays for everyone impacted by cancer.”
Relive this year's Relay for Life via photos and video:
News release written by College Communications & Marketing Intern Alexandra Ciarcia.
Media Contact:
David Irwin
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu