By: Erum Rizvi <[email protected]>

Gauri Bajpai, Family Career and Community Leaders of America Club (FCCLA) member and senior, said that she is excited for Relay for Life, which will be the club’s next event coming up at this school.

According to Bajpai, who was the Indiana chapter’s former vice president, the event will be a 24-hour team event from June 7 to June 8 to support those who are survivors and to commemorate those who have been lost to cancer.

The relay team members will alternate with one another to walk or run around the track for the entire event. There will be teams of eight to 15 people and they will select a captain to set a team goal of how much money they would like to raise.

Every member will take their respective turns on the path before those who are waiting for their turn can take part in the activities scheduled around the track.

“This event will be a lot of fun and at the same time, we will be fund-raising for a great cause,” Bajpai said.

According to the American Cancer Society, over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year and over 1,500 lives will be lost to cancer today.

Cancer today is the prevalent cause of approximately 22.8 percent of deaths in the United States which was recorded in a recent survey by The National Center for Health Statistics.

According to FCCLA sponsor Brooke Weekes, she believes Relay for Life is a great event for anyone who wants to help out on a cause that can make such an immense difference.

According to Weekes, the club sold moons and stars for $1 each, beaded bracelets for $5 and luminaria bags for $10 until May 2 at CHS.

Weekes said that there are many events and activities scheduled throughout the 24-hour period from a survivor’s brunch, a luminaria ceremony to a carnival.

Anyone who wants more information can see Weekes for a team packet and teams may register online at events.cancer.org/rflcarmelin.

Relay for Life is a national event made possible by the American Cancer Society, but high schools host the event yearly. It is a community event consisting of people representing many different organizations, businesses, schools and other groups.

According to Bajpai, the FCCLA national officers decided to take part in the event for the third year as it displays what the club is about. “I think that this event will really bring everyone in the community together as a whole,” Bajpai said.

Weekes said, “Relay for life is a bittersweet event. Everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer in some way, so it is a way to remember those lost and recognize those personal battles.

“It’s also a celebration for those who have survived cancer and a powerful way to band together as a community to show that we’re going to continue to fight the cancer battle. This is probably one of the most meaningful events our FCCLA chapter gets involved in and every year it gets better.”