April 22, 2009

College’s Relay for Life raises nearly $54K

By Claire Gould

Members of the Connecticut College

community and the larger New London
community came together last weekend
for a single cause: the fight against
cancer.
The college held its first Relay For
Life event on Friday, April 17, with
participants rounding Tempel Green
from 6 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Saturday.
All night long, 417 people representing
43 teams took turns walking or running
around a designated track lighted with
"The event was an astonishing
luminarias. Music helped keep the beat,
example of sustained and successful
and the green was dotted with tents, food
activism," LeClair added.
vendors, yard sale items and interactive
Relay For Life, the American Cancer
activities like balloon popping for prizes
Society's signature activity, offers
and raffles.
everyone in the community an
Together, the teams raised nearly
opportunity to participate in the fight
$54,000 - surpassing the $50,000 goal
against cancer. To raise funds for the
set for the event.
cause, teams of people camp out at a
"The support that the Connecticut
local high school, park or fairground and
College campus showed its first Relay
take turns walking or running around a
For Life was a tremendous inspiration,"
track or path. Each team is asked to have
said Jessica LeClair '08, an AmeriCorps
a representative on the track at all times
staff member with the college's Office of
during the overnight event, which can
Volunteers for Community Service
last up to 24 hours in length.
(OVCS). LeClair coordinated the Relay
For more information about
For Life event with Thomas Howd '01
Connecticut College's Relay For Life,
and Kelly Hamilton '09, along with an
visit www.relayforlife.org/conncoll.
number of students, staff and faculty.