U of G among top fundraising schools in Ontario
The University of Guelph’s 2017 Relay for Life took place overnight from March 11 to 12 in the Gryphon Fieldhouse in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
The marathon-style event consisted of 560 participants grouped into teams where, for 12 consecutive hours, someone from each team would seamlessly be walking the track.
Hair donations, dancing, and live music were among the events taking place between the relay’s 7 p.m. opening ceremony and its 7 a.m. wrap-up.
Though the initial goal was to raise $65,000, this year’s ambitious event quickly surpassed that and raised $107,000 in donations.U of G is only the third university in Ontario to raise over $100,000 at a Relay for Life event, after Carleton and Queen’s.
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All relay teams gathered on the artificial turf, clad in costumes and Gryphon garb, to watch the opening ceremony.
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The relay’s first lap was walked by the 11 cancer survivors in attendance that evening. Students fell into step behind them as they passed, creating a procession that grew longer as it advanced.
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Participants eagerly took to the track in the relay’s opening minutes. Pictured in front are representatives from the Quidditch team.
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Balloons in the Canadian Cancer Society’s colours lined the stage where bands would play later that evening.
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First-year zoology student Kirsten Burley was the first of many to donate her hair to make wigs for cancer patients who have lost their hair during chemotheraphy.
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The event’s Disney theme was prevalent, especially in team names, including “Cinderelay,” “Alice in Gryphonland,” and “101 Donations.”
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The paint-splattered letters, propped against a steeplechase barrier along the track’s northwest corner, urged participants forward lap after lap.
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The relay’s committee poses around the Fieldhouse’s hometown letters after a long night of walking and running around the track. Next stop: home.