FRIDAY: Hundreds of People to Spend the Night at UC For 'The Greatest Cause on Earth'

It’s an annual spring spectacle on the University of Cincinnati’s McMicken Commons. More than 1,400 participants and a record 165 teams are gearing up for the American Cancer Society’s seventh-annual Relay For Life at UC, which gets under way at 5:45 p.m., Friday, April 24, on McMicken Commons, and runs through noon, Saturday, April 25.

The UC student-organized community-service event aims to raise $135,000 to support American Cancer Society efforts to wipe out cancer by funding research, treatment and education programs. For example, Glendon Zinser, an assistant professor in UC’s surgery department, was awarded a one-year, $30,000 pilot grant from the American Cancer Society’s Ohio Division in 2009 to explore the relationship of vitamin D in the prevention of breast cancer.

UC Relay For Life Event Chair Florence Lucas, a 20-year-old University Honors student and secondary education major from Akron, Ohio, says the 2009 Relay For Life at UC is themed, “The Greatest Cause on Earth” and will feature teams working around themes to reflect the circus. Even Lucy the Bearcat is lending support to the Relay. Representatives of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will accompany Lucy at Relay For Life at UC from 7:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, April 24.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life at UC consists of teams of volunteers who have collected pledges and take turns walking around the Relay route on McMicken Commons during the entire 18-hour event. Lucas and UC sophomore Megan Hathaway, a University Honors student and civil engineering major, are event chairs of Relay For Life at UC.

Peter Osborne, Southwest Ohio public relations director for the American Cancer Society, says in 2008, Ohio volunteers raised $16.7 million for cancer research and education through the support of 217 Relays. This year in Ohio, Osborne says 218 Relays are striving to raise $17.2 million. Osborne says nationally, 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of Relay For Life. Over that time period, Osborne says more than $3 billion has been raised for research, prevention and education programs to battle cancer.

UC faculty, staff, students and members of the Cincinnati USA community can support the UC Relay For Life by making a donation. Information on making donations is featured on the UC Relay For Life Web site. For more information on Relay For Life events taking place around Cincinnati USA, call 800-ACS-2345 or visit the Relay For Life Web site.

2009 Relay For Life at UC Media Photo Highlights

Friday, April 24

5:45 p.m. – Kickoff of Relay For Life at UC, featuring the Bearcat Band
6 p.m. – A special survivor lap to honor cancer survivors, an emotional moment in the Relay
7:30-8:30 p.m. – Lucy the Bearcat, accompanied by representatives of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, stops by the Relay to greet the participants.
10 p.m. – The Ceremony of Hope: lighted bags called Luminaria represent a person affected by cancer or are purchased in memory of those lost to cancer, as well as those who were touched by that experience.

Saturday, April 25

11:30 a.m. – Closing ceremony and awards
Noon – The final lap of the 2009 Relay For Life at UC