USD gives cancer the boot

10th annual Relay for Life on-campus event sheds light on cancer awareness

Lilyana Espinoza | News Editor | The USD Vista

Emotions ran high as the darkness enveloped the Valley Field. It was time to light luminarias — battery-operated candles inside decorated, white paper bags symbolizing hope in darkness — and participate in a silent walk to remember those who have been affected by cancer. One by one, the luminarias that surrounded the field were lit. Tears filled the eyes of attendees who have lost loved ones to cancer.

Junior Emily Patterson walked the track looking at not only the luminarias she made for her own grandparents, but at all the luminarias shining bright around the track.

“Going into the event, I didn’t think I would get so emotional at the luminaria ceremony,” Patterson said. “But seeing the vast number of luminarias going all the way around the track was emotional to see. I was speechless to see the number of people whose lives have been impacted by cancer and strangers, who were there to show support for the cause, walk the track. It was incredible to witness.”

Last Friday, the University of San Diego’s Colleges Against Cancer club worked with the American Cancer Society to “Give Cancer the Boot” at USD’s 10th annual Relay for Life event on the Valley Field. Relay for Life is a fundraising tool for the American Cancer Society to help raise money for cancer patients and their families. The event began at 3 p.m. and lasted until 11 p.m.

As time went on, people trickled in to participate in walking the track which symbolized the ongoing fight against cancer. The event raised $6,273, and the Colleges Against Cancer club will continue to raise money until the beginning of next semester.

Senior Kirsten Haltman, the event lead, explained what Relay for Life is.

“My best descriptor (of Relay for Life) would be an educational fundraiser,” Haltman said. “The event does raise money for the American Cancer Society (which is) the fundraiser part, but a large portion of it is also about education. Education is vital with something like cancer because it spreads knowledge and information on not only how to prevent it, but also what can be done when someone receives a diagnosis. Throughout the entire event, and every smaller event we have throughout the year, we try to integrate the education and fundraiser parts in with fun to make the event as impactful as we can.”

Ariela Canizal, Relay for Life advisor, commended the efforts of the relay team for making this event a success.

“I want to stress that Relay for Life is all student driven,” Canizal said. “Yes, I am their advisor, but this event could not have happened without the commitment of the Relay for Life student leadership team. It has been 10 years that Relay for Life has been occurring at USD, and this could not have happened without the support of many USD campus-partners and the USD students.”

Throughout the day there were various activities the attendees could participate in, such as a raffle, bubble soccer, corn hole, walking the track, decorating luminarias, and the highlight of the event, the Mr. Relay Pageant.

The Mr. Relay Pageant attracted a large and energetic crowd as male attendees of the relay event volunteered to dress in purple, cat-walk on the stage, answer questions, and display a talent. The crowd went wild as the contestants performed on-stage talents such as Vine reenactments and impressive whistling. This activity presented a fun aspect of the relay that brought the community together.

After an uplifting afternoon of games and activities, it was time for the luminaria ceremony. The luminarias were candles inside of white paper bags decorated in honor of survivors of cancer or those who have lost their lives to it. But before the lighting of the luminarias, a few students spoke about their personal experiences of how cancer has had an impact on their lives.

The first speaker was first-year Sana Moezzi, who faced the hardship of being diagnosed with cancer her senior year of high school.

“My mom had noticed a huge bump on my right shoulder,” Moezzi said. “After PET-CT scans and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. I had gone through four cycles of chemotherapy and radiation, missed five months of my senior year, and worked on college applications without being able to get up on my own two feet.”

Moezzi continued to tell the story of her life after knowing she had cancer.

“After countless hours each day in the hospital, I have learned that no beauty shines brighter than that of a happy heart,” Moezzi said. “I constantly found the positives in even the biggest of my worries. Even through all the pain I found myself smiling and appreciating the fact that I am living to see another day. I am so proud to announce that I not only graduated (high school) with my classmates, but I am also one-year cancer free.”

The second speaker, senior Madison Burningham, shared her story of how cancer has not taken one, but two of her aunts away from her. Burningham’s voice quietly shook as she held back tears, recalling the painful memories of losing her second aunt to cancer just two years ago.

“I was traveling with the women’s basketball team to the Midwest for playoff games,” Burningham said. “Right before we left, I got a call from my mom and she was in tears. I knew something wasn’t right. She told me that my Aunt Carol had gone to the hospital for a stomach ache and was diagnosed with stage-four stomach cancer. The doctors gave her two weeks to live.”

Two weeks later, Burningham’s aunt had passed, but she honored her memory by walking in USD’s Relay for Life that year.

“I came to the event and walked in her honor,” Burningham said. “As I was walking, I got a text from my family saying that the memorial service was beautiful. I was not able to attend, but walking in Relay for Life was an even better tribute to her life.”

At the end of her speech, Burningham told the audience why she participates in the event.

“Now I walk for both my aunts, the people who we have lost, those who are fighting, and those who have bravely survived cancer,” Burningham said. “We must stay hopeful and continue to not only fight for the ones going through cancer but also celebrate the victories.”

Before the Luminaria Ceremony, also known as the Ceremony of Hope, the letters H. O. P. E. were lit one by one, reminding everyone why they were there together that cool, spring night. The battle against cancer is one that cannot be faced without hope ­— a hope that Relay for Life symbolizes and that so many people have for finding a cure to the disease.