Jackson County Relay for Life

by Tyler Hilbert

The Jackson County campus of WVU Parkersburg is gearing up for the big Relay for Life event that will take place June 2, 2017.  Jackson County has its own Relay for Life team with 14 members including the team captain and President of SGA for Jackson County, Annette Landis.  They have participated in Relay for Life for three years now. They have held fundraisers for Relay for Life 2017 since last fall.  They have hosted numerous bake, flower, paper feet, and cupcake sales along with luminaire, raffles, car washes and a haunted house to raise funds.  These fundraisers have been very successful with another flower and bake sale, and car wash coming up soon.

“We are all looking very forward to this event; it is usually a fine highlight to Jackson County, and a perfect example of how things can happen when people come together,” Annette said.

Anyone with an interest in joining the team or helping out at fundraisers and the actual event should contact Annette Landis.  Representatives of Student Government Association attend a series of five monthly planning meetings held from February through early June.  This event is great to promote the college, exercise and to help fight against cancer.  This is not only a fun activity to attend but the proceeds from it will go to a good cause.

The Relay for Life is the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  It is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries.  Relay for Life is a team fundraising event where team members take turns walking around a track or designated path.  Each event is six to 24 hours in length, and each team is asked to have a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps.  Each team sets up a themed campsite at the event and continues their fundraising efforts by collecting donations for food, goods, game and activities.  This money will count towards their overall team fundraising goal.

In May 1985, Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society.  Gordy spent 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound.  He ran more than 83.6 miles and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer.  Gordy passed away August 3, 2014 at the age of 71 from heart failure after battling stomach cancer.  He helped shape the idea that started as one man walking and running a track and helped turn it into a global event raising over $5 billion to help save lives throughout the world.