This weekend’s ninth annual UF Relay for Life fundraiser raised $130,971.84 for the American Cancer Society. A record 93 teams and about 2,400 people participated in the 18-hour, overnight event despite a sudden change of venue from Flavet Field to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center because of predicted rain.
UF civil engineering senior Meagan Dickey, 23, said the last-minute location change forced the staff to shrink the campsites but didn’t alter many other plans.
“Everyone was just closer together, which isn’t a problem,” she said.
Teams held fundraisers months in advance to raise money for the cause, and they set up activities and games to raise money during the Friday night event.
Participants decorated their campsites for this year’s theme, Game for a Cure. Fundraisers included Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia serenades, the physical therapy program’s massages, Phi Sigma Rho’s balloon animals and Pre-Dental ASDA’s water pong competition.
Alpha Epsilon Delta was the top fundraising team this year. The pre-health honor society raised more than $13,000 and became the first team in UF history to reach jade level, the second-highest fundraising level.
Sarah Johnson, a 21-year-old UF linguistics junior and leukemia survivor, spoke at the opening ceremonies.
“I let nothing and no one get in the way of my goals and ambitions,” she said. “I knew I had survived for a reason.”
Dickey said the event was a success.
“At UF, we go all night,” she said.
Albert and Alberta play a game of cornhole at UF's Relay for Life in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Friday evening. The event raised about $130,000.
