On the weekend of May 19 to May 20, Nazareth students took part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Students were able to get groups of friends together and form teams to raise money and walk overnight around the football field at Valenta Stadium. With around fifty teams and over 600 participants, students had a blast hanging out with friends and listening to fellow students perform.

The most moving part of the night was the Luminaria ceremony. Many students cried as they broke their glow sticks and placed them into bags representing the lives of those who had died battling cancer and listened to Senior Danielle Aument perform one of her own compositions, “Starlights.”

“It was a powerful moment to see everyone stop what they were doing and recognize those who have passed and those who are battling cancer in a moment of solidarity,” said English teacher Ms. Jen Mineo who attended the event. The participants were deeply moved by the many personal speeches and memories of family and friends that were or currently are affected by cancer.

Students and teachers alike were able to take advantage of the on-site fundraisers, such as the dunk tank, where they could try and dunk teachers such as Sister Mary Jo and Mr. Boland. For $1, people were able to make twelve tosses at the tank. Even when the target was not hit, teachers were good sports when relayers walked up to the target and struck it directly so they would fall in.  Also, a big hit of the night was the “jail” run by the team A.C.T.2.  Participants could pay to have their friends “arrested” for a certain amount of time and the prisoners could only be let out if they lived out their sentence or other participants paid to release them.  That fundraiser raised over $500 alone.

Even with the sleepless night under their belt, most relayers stuck it out and stayed for the closing ceremony, where it was announced that Relay for Life at Nazareth Academy raised over $92,000. Many thanks go out to everyone who donated and attended Relay!