By Briana Berg and Jacqueline Lovdahl

Relay for Life was started in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a surgeon in Tacoma, Washington,who walked around a track for twenty-four hours in order to raise money for The American Cancer Society. Today, more than 3.5 million people across the U.S.participate in Relay for Life, including a large group of students here at Loyola University. More than 1,557 people from Loyola participated in Relay for Life this year.

Relay for Life is an event that raises money through donations for The American Cancer Society and supports those struggling with cancer, those who have died from cancer, and those who have lost someone in their lives to cancer. At Loyola this year 125 teams participated in the event.

Through team fundraising and donations, Loyola was responsible for raising $188, 310.68. Loyola and The American Cancer Society both support the Relay for Life philosophy stating that “those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one daycancer will be eliminated.”

To find out more about this event on campus, check out the audio slideshow below!