Relay for life fights cancer

by Kiara Posey

The Troy University Colleges Against Cancer Committee, in affiliation with the American Cancer Society, held its biggest event last Friday: Relay for Life Cancer Walk. 

“The walking is to signify the battle, and we like to have one person from each team on the track at all times to signify that the battle for cancer never stops,” said Erin Shelley, the co-president of the Colleges Against Cancer Committee, and a junior biomedical science major from Dothan, Alabama. 

By the end of this year, 1.9 million people are expected to be newly diagnosed with cancer and more than 600 thousand people will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. This statistic is just one of the reasons why many Troy students said they chose to participate in the Relay for Life. 

Many of the participants had someone in their family or knew someone who was battling cancer. Faith Stoudemire, a freshman psychology major from Birmingham, Alabama, participated in memory of her older sister who passed away from Leukemia. 

“I just feel so much love and support from everyone here,” Stoudemire said. “We’re all here for a purpose and we all want to find a cure and make this world cancer free.

“We all want to honor survivors and think about our loved ones that we’ve lost.”

Tristan Delgado, a freshman computer science major from Hartselle, Alabama, also participated in the walk to honor his father who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

“It resonates with me strongly because someone I care about has been diagnosed with cancer,” Delgado said. “I feel like everyone is taking this pretty seriously and continues walking. 

“It’s almost sad in a way because everyone knows what we’re here for.” 

Relay for Life usually lasts from dusk until dawn to parallel the physical effects, emotions and mental state of a cancer patient. Participants played games and listened to music throughout the walk. The walk ended with students decorating luminarias and lighting them with glow sticks. Some students made their luminaria to honor loved ones. 

All of the profits raised will go directly to the American Cancer Society, which works towards supporting cancer patients and finding a cure. To learn more, visit Troy University’s Relay for Life Instagram, @troyurelay.