Relay for Life campaign nets $150k
By Caitlyn Doyle ’07

With big hearts and tired feet, Loyola College students raised $150,000 during their 12-hour Relay for Life event in March. This year's fundraising topped last year's $145,000 contribution, which was the best among U.S. colleges with enrollment of 5,000 or less.

 “We’ve become a role model for other colleges,” says junior Margaret Orazio, one of Loyola’s Relay pioneers who has organized three Relays on campus generating over $384,000. “I regularly receive mail from other college committees for advice, ideas and best practices.”

Orazio, co-chair Ashley Biggs, ’08, and a committee, which calls itself the HopeSquad, have not only produced record-setting donations each year, they have also increased participation by the hundreds. Their passion for the cause of fighting cancer has grown into an annual campus- and community-wide endeavor involving over one thousand students comprising 108 teams. Three area high school teams, 76 midshipmen from the Naval Academy, alumni from Dickinson College and youth from local elementary schools also joined the Relay this year. In addition, three groups of students, studying abroad this semester, joined in Loyola’s efforts from their international locations. 

The Relay track and most of the teams’ campsites were in Reitz Arena.  Five thousand purple and white balloons were used to create arches over the track, which was lined with luminaries supporting those fighting cancer and honoring the memories of those who have lost their battles.  One member from each team walked the track for all twelve hours, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.  McGuire Hall held the extra “campsites” that could not fit into Reitz, featured a live feed of the NCAA basketball tournament semifinal games and showcased live performances from student bands and Loyola’s male a capella group, the Chimes.

“The girls who brought Relay to Loyola have modern, fun ideas to get college kids involved with the event and excited about participating,” said Nicole Salvi, ’07, who created a team of students with whom she had studied abroad in Ireland. 

Event activities, for those team members not on the track, included sumo wrestling in giant foam suits, a dance team performance, a Spanish dancing lesson and a campus scavenger hunt. Teams also provided fun opportunities to raise extra money throughout the night in their campsites, including $2 manicures, bake sales and raffles.  Nearly $30,000 was raised through the fundraisers on Saturday night alone.

With the success of this year’s Relay, combined with events from a March Madness fundraising week and ongoing efforts through August 21, Loyola’s fundraising goal of $200,000 is within reach. But the committee knows its success goes far beyond monetary achievements.

“We have already reached our goal.  This event is not about money; it is a celebration of hope and an opportunity to improve the quality of life,” said Orazio.