Community supports life

By Amanda Phipps

phippsa@mytjnow.com

Students joined in walking twelve laps of silence to honor cancer survivors and the Relay For Life spirit. During the laps, music played to a list of survivors. Photo by Stephanie Eaton • eatons@mytjnow.comTwelve laps of silence marked the reason for the all-night fight toward a cure for cancer. 

Relay for Life (RFL) was held last Friday from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Dinkins Lawn as part of the American Cancer Society’s effort to raise money for the cure for cancer. 

This year Winthrop had more participants and money than in the past, with 380 participants signed up online, junior exercise science major Guneet Malhi said. Malhi is the event chair on the RFL committee this year and said RFL has been growing each year. 

“We had really dedicated participants this year,” she said. “There were more than I expected.” 

Malhi said the participants were energetic even six hours into the event and that people walked all the twelve laps of silence dedicated to survivors. 

I walked the laps as well, and it  made me reflect on the cause and how my family has been affected by cancer. My grandmother had breast cancer earlier this year, but luckily it was benign and she is doing much better. 

Greek Week was incorporated with RFL this year, which meant the sororities and fraternities took part in the activities, Malhi said. 

There were multiple ways for people to get involved, including theme laps, such as the cha cha and electric slide dances, she said. There were haircuts for a minimum donation of $5 to RFL and a Winthrop spirit check. 

“Everyone is willing to participate,” Malhi said. “It is always a nice feeling.” 

The event turned out great after hours of hard work with the new staff partner Stephanie Smith, she said. 

“Planning was stressful,” Malhi said. “We are getting used to a bigger committee and a new staff partner. We made mistakes and learned a lot.”