An assortment of Rowan students came together to engage in fun while supporting a good cause. Relay for Life, an event benefitting the American Cancer Society, was held at the Rowan Recreation Center gymnasium, with participants playing games and raising money to support the fight against cancer.

The seven-hour-long event that was held last Friday consisted of multiple teams competing in events from a four-person race with inflatable torches to a game of knockout and even a pie-eating contest. Raffles for various prizes were also a draw for those who came out. But for many people at the Relay, including those who were running it, the event was something that was personal for them.

“My dad was diagnosed with cancer, and he survived,” said Liah Forbes, a 20-year-old junior majoring in health and science communication who serves as vice president of the Rowan chapter of Colleges Against Cancer, the organization established by the American Cancer Society that sponsors the event. “I’ve been doing this since high school, and then I just realized that we had it here, so I wanted to continue doing it.”

Forbes wasn’t the only person who was devoted to leading the cause for the Relay. Julianna “JuJu” Ruff, a 21-year-old senior mathematics major who is in her second year as Rowan’s Colleges Against Cancer chapter president, has also seen her family impacted by cancer, which fueled her desire to become a part of the organization.

“I’ve had a lot of family that struggled with fighting against cancer and surviving it,” Ruff said. “It’s such a good feeling to be able to help [give] back to my family and friends who’ve struggled with this their whole lives.”

Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, wanted to grab people’s attention in a creative way to raise money for the American Cancer Society. He did this by utilizing his love of running marathons and trained to run for 24 hours straight on the track at Baker Field at the University of Puget Sound. By the end of the 83-mile run, Dr. Klatt raised $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. In the decades since, Relay for Life has raised over $6.9 billion in the fight against cancer. 

Rowan’s Relay for Life, which has taken place since 2008, raised over $5,000 this year to raise awareness and give back to those affected by cancer, including nurses and patients. What the event also does is provide a moment for attendees to listen to the stories of those who survived cancer, those currently fighting it, and loved ones of those who lost their battle with it. Among those who shared was Rowan math professor Dr. Christopher Lacke, who has fought cancer twice in his life. He was first diagnosed at the age of 12 with melanoma on the sole of his foot.

“My grandfather had pancreatic cancer; he survived 17 years, so at the age of 12, I hadn’t really had much other experience with cancer,” said Dr. Lacke. “It didn’t really register with me until the doctor started talking about different possibilities.”

After surviving melanoma, Dr. Lacke had a clean bill of health for many years until he was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland. From there, nodules grew on his thyroid, which led to him receiving biopsies. Eventually, the nodules were found to be malignant.

“I had my thyroid removed, I had typical radiation for thyroid cancer,” said Dr. Lacke. “My bloodwork for my diabetes …there’s one number, since I don’t have a thyroid, if that number stays close to zero, no problem.”

Following the speeches from cancer survivors was the Luminaria Ceremony, with paper bags illuminated by glow sticks arranged to spell out the word “cope.” Afterward, attendees participated in a silent walk on the upstairs track in the gymnasium. For everyone attending the Relay and overseeing it, the event gave them a reason to be a part of something bigger, whether it’s personal or simply out of goodwill.

“We plan for this event our entire year, and … everyone has a story about what they do it for, and I think it’s great to be with people who feel the same way as everyone else,” said Ruff. “We all have a passion for something above us.”

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