Students ready to relay

More than 1,000 JMU students are ready to be a part of JMU’s fifth Relay For Life this Saturday, with the possibility to exceed the $140,000 raised last year for cancer research.

Senior Bill Williams, co-chair for the events, said as of April 1, more than 120 teams had already raised $100,000. He also said many fun activities are planned to keep all participants awake during from 7 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. Williams explained that all teams must have one or more members on the track at any given point, but the rest of the team can participate in other activities.

There will be live music provided by many of JMU’s a capella groups for most of the night. A Ms. Relay Pageant, which is something like a drag queen contest, will occur around 3 a.m. Group fitness instructors will also have an aerobic activity to participate in. Williams said they are also looking to have ballroom dancing lessons at some point in the night.

Ceremonies for cancer survivors and those lost to cancer will be the focus of the event. "All cancer survivors will do a lap around the track together," Williams said. "It really reminds people of the emotional reason they’re there." He said it will also remind participants why they put so much time and effort into planning for and raising money for Relay for Life.

Freshman Megan Carlman, a team captain, said, "it was fun to be a part of the preparation for this and it is great to see so many young people concerned about cancer. I think everyone has either been directly or indirectly affected by it in some way."

Freshman Jessica Arms also will be participating in the relay.

"A young friend of mine died of cancer in September and she is my reason," Arms said. "I just hope this will help people in her situation in the future."