Lehigh’s Relay for Life raises more than $70,000

Lehigh’s 2015 Relay for Life was the first collegiate event in 10 years to reach its goal donation amount before the event even started. Almost $72,000 was raised this year, with the highest raising team being Kappa Delta sorority, with its members raising more than $10,000.

The event was held in Grace Hall on March 27 from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Following the motto of Relay for Life, the event lasts throughout the night because “Cancer never sleeps, so neither do we.” Although most of the fundraising happened before the event, many of Lehigh’s clubs and organizations were in attendance with booths set up for fundraising during the event. About 1,100 people signed up for the event to walk in memory or support of someone.

Madison Hirsh, ’18, the highest-raising Relay participant, raised over $2,000. Hirsh’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in November. As a new student at Lehigh, there were not many people she could speak to about her situation. During her second semester, Hirsh learned about Relay for Life and found it was encouraging for her and her mother. It was something she could dedicate herself to and saw the results in the event.

“It was a remarkable experience for me because it was the first time I met people that were really in the same situation as me,” Hirsh said. “The attendance of all the people and the students supporting the cause was outstanding.”

The event is run by the Lehigh chapter of Colleges Against Cancer. Megan Matthews, ’17, Relay for Life logistics chair, said she participates in the event for her family.

“I relay for all my family has gone through,” Matthews said. “I relay to one day find a cure and make the word cancer less life-altering and scary,” Matthews said.

Many fraternities and sororities had booths at the events, featuring baked goods, face painting, games and other activities.

Courtney Lenzo, ’18, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority said her chapter had a booth for face painting, although it did most of its fundraising before the event. One of Lenzo’s sorority sisters, Kate Hamilton, ’15, the co-president of Colleges Against Cancer, spoke at the end of Relay for Life about her experience with cancer.

“It was really emotional and it was nice to know that she has people behind her and you can really see that with Relay for Life,” Lenzo said.

There were multiple activities throughout the event, including performances by four different a cappella groups, performances from the dance team, the step team and Steel City Sunrise. There was also a luminaria ceremony to honor those who have been affected by cancer. The opening ceremony included a speech by student Rebecca Youssef, ’15, about being a survivor of cancer.

“It was very nice having the whole community together,” Ari Goret, ’18, said. “It wasn’t just one sorority or one fraternity, but the whole Lehigh community.”