By Samantha Smith
Multimedia journalist
Youngstown State University’s Guins Against Cancer is hosting its annual Relay for Life event honoring those who have or had cancer on Sunday, April 24.
Daniel Yoder, event lead for Guins Against Cancer and junior information technology major, explained the purpose of Relay for Life.
“It’s a celebration for those we’ve lost to cancer and those who continue to live with cancer,” he said. “It’s not only focused on the cancer survivors, it’s also focused on those who take care of them on a day-to-day basis.”
The relay also helps raise money for cancer research.
At the end of the relay, a luminaria lap will take place where members of the organization will line the track with luminarias — white bags with lights inside of them to honor, support or remember those who had or have cancer — and walk a lap in silence.
Yoder detailed what he hopes participants gain from this event and the overall atmosphere.
“Over the past couple years, we haven’t really had a full in-person event,” he said. “I hope that this year we can have that and I hope people take away that things can get back to normal and things can be positive again.”
While the organization plans to hold the event at the Farmers National Bank Soccer Field, in the event of rain, the relay will move to the Watson and Tressel Training Site on campus.
For those who are interested in participating, the event will be held 12-8 p.m. Guins Against Cancer is also looking for volunteers to help put together, clean up and help around the event. To volunteer, contact [email protected]