The seven survivors lapped around Circle Park while the different teams stood on the edge of the road cheering them on. Those holding balloons could walk behind them.

Their run marked the beginning of Relay for Life, the nation-wide event that raises awareness and funding for the American Cancer Society. Beginning in 1985, the event has raised an estimated $3 billion.

Like most Relay events, UT’s officially starts with a Survivor Lap, where various cancer survivors or a survivor representative makes the first lap. The cheers from the sidelines come from the many fund raising teams, each representing different clubs and organizations from UT.

Organizations included Pi Beta Phi sorority, whose member, Sara Corkern, was there until the relay’s end at 6 a.m. the following day. Like so many others, Corkern said the unifying reason for everyone helping was because of cancer’s terrible reach.

“We all know someone who’s affected by cancer,” said Corkern, junior in journalism and electronic media. “It affects all of us.”

Once the survivors’ lap was complete, others could join in for the “First Lap.” More than 200 attendees joined in, and as the lap was finished, everyone released their balloons.

Ashley McCloud, executive director of Relay for Life, couldn’t have been more pleased.

“I’m very impressed with the whole event,” McCloud, senior in public relations, said. “You expect problems of all kinds to happen, everything from people bailing to not having enough forks. But so far everything is going just right.”

McCloud has been working with Relay For Life for three years. The motivation comes from the death of her grandmother, who had cancer. McCloud found solace in working on the relay.

McCloud’s friend Andrea Bennett, junior in honors political science, also lost her grandmother to cancer. Bennett is now director of team development and helps organize more than 40 teams and 1,300 individual participants.

“When I saw how much the American Cancer Society helped with my grandmother, I wanted to do something, I wanted to give back,” Bennett said. “It’s a really rewarding experience.”

Back in August, when planning for Relay for Life began, Bennett and McCloud asked different participants about their experience with the disease.

“You’ll go in a room and ask for the people who’ve had a grandparent pass away because of cancer to stand up,” Bennett said. “Then you ask those who’ve had a parent pass away to stand, and then if they’ve had a friend. … Eventually, everyone is standing.”           

The people participating in Relay, however, are nonetheless still cheery.

The booths were bustling with activity and laughter as dozens of teams and people walked around the Circle.

Some carried poster boards with the name of their team and the goods they were selling, such as pies and Belgian waffles.

The Belgian waffles came from the Morrill Hall booth, which at the time raised more than $350. One of the students operating the booth was Zachary Wallace, an undecided freshman. Both Wallace’s grandfather and aunt had been affected by cancer, and he was enthusiastic about everyone’s eager participation in Relay.

“It gives me hope that people care and are willing to work to help other people,” Wallace said.

Down the aisle that cuts through the middle of Circle Park was the booth for Undergraduate Anthropology Association, whose theme was Germany. Students there sold hot dogs and apple streusels.

Association vice-president Becca George, senior in anthropology, said their group was representing Donna Griffin, the principle secretary for the Department of Anthropology.

“We heard through the grapevine that she was fighting cancer,” George said. “We decided that we wanted to do something about it and show her our support.”

From that night alone, the Undergraduate Association raised more than $130.

Overall, McCloud estimated that more than $61,000 had been raised throughout the year, at least $15,000 of which came from Friday night.

“It turned out way better than any of us expected,” McCloud said.

Relay for Life is still accepting donations. Their fiscal year won’t end until August.

Those interested in being on the executive committee for next year can send inquiries to McCloud at [email protected] or to the faculty adviser, Bonnie Hufford, at [email protected].