Relay for Life returns to in-person event on campus

President Philomena V. Mantella opened the 2022 Relay for Life event on April 1 with inspiring words for the students ready to spend the evening walking to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

The 12-hour event supports the American Cancer Society, which provides housing, transportation and resources to cancer patients and their families. 

“This is very exciting what you are doing here,” said Mantella. “It’s amazing. You are saving lives. You are supporting people fighting cancer. You are raising resources to make their lives better and more comfortable through the journey of treatment. You are doing such important work.”

For the first time since 2019, students, supporters and cancer survivors could gather in-person to enjoy the event and festivities. Two years of the pandemic forced the event to virtual participation, leaving student organizers frustrated, said Jill Klatt, treasurer of the student organization, the American Cancer Society at GVSU. 

“We’re really excited to have everyone back in person,” said Klatt. “It feels like Relay is finally back, whereas virtually we were doing as much as we could, but you couldn’t see the energy behind everything that we were doing.”

By the start of the event, students had raised more than $27,000. Klatt said she expected the figure to rise by the end of the event. GVSU students have raised more than $1.5 million for the American Cancer Society since the first Relay in 2004. 

“It is very emotional,” said Klatt. “I may cry at some point because there’s been so much. We’ve been working on this since August. We’re here to have fun and celebrate everything the ACS does and everything the GVSU community does for the ACS."

To support the American Cancer Society at GVSU, visit the GVSU Relay for Life webpage.