$13,000 raised by Relay for Life at SUNY Poly

In the battle against cancer, SUNY Poly continues to do its part, raising $13,000 at the second annual Relay for Life at SUNY Poly event held this Spring at the Utica campus.

Each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through Relay for Life events and for the second year in a row, one of those events was held right at the Wildcat Field House.

Colleges across the nation take part in events throughout March and April that help raise awareness in the fight against cancer throughout March and April as part of the American Cancer Society’s Colleges Against Cancer, a nationwide collaboration of college students, faculty, and staff dedicated to eliminating cancer by initiating and supporting programs of the American Cancer Society in college communities.

“It’s for a very great cause,” event chair Tucker Mogren told WKTV. “For a campus community that has only been doing it two years, we’ve raised almost $40,000 overall. It’s a really great way for everyone to come together and show their support for any cancer survivors or anyone who has lost their battle with cancer.”

22 teams participated in the 2017 event, camping out overnight and taking turns walking or running around the Field House. Since cancer never sleeps, neither do the efforts of the teams, with participants taking turns to keep their team constantly moving and represented on the gym floor at all times during those 24 hours.

Throughout the event, participants and survivors celebrate all that they’ve overcome, remember those that have lost their battle with the disease, and honor those who have fought or continue to fight the cancer.

The event aims to inspire those taking part to take action against a disease that has taken so much.

“I’m incredibly proud of the students from the Colleges Against Cancer chapter, their advisers, as well as all of the students, staff, faculty and campus community who rallied together to raise funds to help us finish the fight with cancer through this year’s Relay For Life of SUNY POLY,” said Robert Elinskas, Senior Community Manager for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. “Every dollar we raise helps us fund more research, programs, advocacy efforts and patient service programs.”