Genesee Community College's Wellness Center is joining forces with the American Cancer Society to sponsor the college's first ever Relay for Life. The GCC event will be a "mini" version of the relays, which traditionally take place overnight.
The campus relay is from 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday May 1 at the Student Union during the week-long celebration of the inauguration of new GCC President James Sunser, EdD.
GCC's theme for the inaugural run is "Birthday Party: Celebrating New Beginnings," which reflects not only on the commencement of a new president, but recognizes that each birthday is a celebration of life and a victory over disease.
The relay is run (or walked) in segments by teams, with sponsors donating to support their favorite team.
To register your team, or donate to another team, click here: http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12EA?fr_id=44496&pg=entry.
Each run starts with a Survivors' Lap – an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories they have achieved over cancer.
It ends with a Luminaria Ceremony at dusk, which honors people who have been touched by cancer and remembers those who lost their battle against the disease. The ceremony includes simple white bags that represent someone who has been affected by cancer. The bags are filled with sand and a blazing candle is set inside to illuminate the path of the relay.
