Tonight will be sleepless for more than 200 U students who will walk from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. as part of the “Relay for Life.”
“Cancer never sleeps and neither should we,” is the motto of the 18-hour event designed to raise money and awareness for cancer, said Katie Conyers an event organizer.
“A lot of times, cancer leaves people feeling really helpless. This lets them do something,” participant Andrea Detemple said.
Different groups from campus and the community have formed a total of 24 teams, each of which is comprised of eight to 12 participants. At least one member of each team will be walking all night long.
“The goal is for every team member to raise $100,” Detemple said. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.
So far, the Relay for Life teams have raised a total of $11,000, plus an additional $5,000 in sponsorship.
The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with a special dinner just for cancer survivors, whom Detemple defines as anyone who “lived one hour with cancer.”
At 9:30 p.m. there will be a luminary ceremony to remember everyone whose life has been directly touched by cancer-those who have died and also those who survived.
Contests, activities and poker games will be part of the evening.
There will also be stand-up comedy from Wise Guys comedians and music from the local band Adonis.
This Relay for Life event is the first organized by a university in Utah.