Student donating her hair at the Relay For Life event in the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena (SUNY Geneseo/Keith Walters '11)
SUNY Geneseo students raised $150,197 in this year’s Relay For Life, an annual fundraiser that supports the American Cancer Society. The student-run 12-hour event in the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena was packed with performances, activities, and speakers to help to raise money for cancer research and services for cancer patients.
“This year’s Relay For Life was a huge success,” said Katherine Bensburg '19, a childhood/special education major from Mahopac, NY, and president of Geneseo’s Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) organization.
“I love so many things about our event. We have guest speakers, performances, food, workshops, and games, but my favorite part is the Remember Ceremony," said Bensburg.
"During the ceremony, we remember those we have lost to cancer and honor those who have fought or are still fighting this disease. We ask everyone to stand and to join us in a lap around the track in memory of those who have lost their battle. The lights were dimmed, luminaria glowed as every person walked in solidarity. Words can’t describe the emotion that filled the rink; everyone has a reason to Relay.”
Geneseo’s event ranks as the largest in the Rochester area for fundraising and is among the largest such events in the country in support of Relay For Life.
Geneseo’s Colleges Against Cancer organization has more than 50 committee members, 18 chairs, and eight executive board members. Patty Hamilton-Rodgers ‘85, sponsored research associate, is CAC adviser. The CAC staff partner from the American Cancer Society is alumna Jordan Cimilluca ’15.
There were 77 teams and more than 1,700 participants this year.