The American Cancer Society wants to put your insomnia to good use.
A signature activity for the society, the Relay for Life will run starting Friday night at McPhee Center.
“Cancer never sleeps. –Dave Becker Income development manager of The American Cancer Society |
The first Relay for Life took place at night in 1985, in Tacoma, Wash.
“Cancer never sleeps,” said Dave Becker, an income development manager for the society.
The relay part of the event consists of eight to 15 people on a team keeping in motion around the McPhee track all night to show the commitment toward the fight against cancer, he said.
The event will start at 8 p.m. Friday and end at 7 a.m. Saturday.
Involvement with cancer programs is nothing new for Mary Kemp, program assistant for the Foundations of Education department at UW-Eau Claire.
This August will mark 10 years since the surgery that removed her breast cancer.
Over the last four years she has chaired the Eau Claire Relay for Life and raised about $120,000 annually.
Kemp said she occasionally serves as a contact for people recently diagnosed with cancer.
When she initially was diagnosed, she didn’t know any cancer survivors.
Everyone she knew who had cancer died.
Kemp’s cancer was not diagnosed early, and she jointly blames herself and medical technology.
For cancer survivors, such as Kemp, a victory lap will be held around the track at 9 p.m. Cancer survivors will receive a free shirt.
Freshman Andy Bitz plans to head a group of about eight people walking throughout the night.
Each team member had a goal to collect $100 per person, he said. Some members of his group went through Bridgman Hall and collected about $120 in change, $90 in cash and received a $100 gift from Bridgman Hall Council.
People not participating in the event will be charged a $5 entry fee. The fee will be used to pay for two live bands playing on the hour throughout the night pizza served at midnight, Becker said.
Between 250 to 300 people, he said, are expected to take part in the event.