Stonehill holds virtual Relay For Life

Photo courtesy of Relay For Life of Stonehill Committee

By Elizabeth Ednie

Stonehill College’s Relay For Life planning committee has been working hard over the last week to transfer the event to an online version, and will continue to fundraise and recognize everyone affected by cancer. The annual Relay For Life would have taken place in the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex on March 20, but was canceled due to COVID-19. The team consists of Taylor Wright, a community development manager at American Cancer Society who works as the staff partner for the event, three event leads -- seniors Emma-Cate Rapose and Julie Fitzpatrick, and junior Alexis Christie -- and a 40-person planning committee that met weekly throughout the year. There are multiple steps being taken to transform this event, and it has been a team effort to make the best of an unprecedented situation. Wright said there are campus Relay For Life events across the country that will also be faced with this new challenge. “While it’s far from ideal, it is exciting to see the innovative ideas coming out of this!” Wright said. “We looked at what is unique about our event and the things participants look forward to the most and how we could adapt those virtually,” Wright said. “The luminaria ceremony is one that stands out, and I think will still be an impactful and powerful experience for everyone in the virtual space.” Instead of the event being just one night, Wright said that another step the team took was making the event take place over the week to hopefully expand their reach and engagement. In an email sent out to the College on March 18, President Father John Denning, C.S.C., said that online learning would continue for the remainder of the semester due to the impact of the virus. Julie Fitzpatrick has been on the committee all four years and has served as an event lead for the past three years. “This adjustment to a virtual event has been tough for me as a senior. I was really looking forward to my senior event as a culmination of all the hard work we’ve put in this year, and all my years on the committee,” Fitzpatrick said. The team has been working on the event since January of 2019. “It’s disappointing to not have it in person this year, and it’s something that brings my friends and family together,” Fitzpatrick said. Alexis Christie, another event lead, encourages everyone to continue making the most of the situation. “While we’re all very sad we can’t hold the event together with the Stonehill community, cancer is an always present disease and our fight to change that through fundraising should continue year round as always!” Emma-Cate Rapose has been on the committee since her first year at Stonehill. This is her second year as an event lead. “I was actually abroad during the event last year, so I was really excited to be on campus for this year’s Relay,” Rapose said. “Despite the fact that we are not together for this year’s event, I am so proud of the committee’s hard work. I’ve found three best friends in Taylor, Julie, and Alexis, and we’re working hard to make sure the virtual version is still a success!” According to Wright, there are around 250 registered participants and more than 30 teams. They have raised over $27,000 towards Stonehill’s $50,000 goal. “The funds you raise through Relay For Life will not only honor survivors and remember loved ones, but also help give cancer patients and their families the resources they need, like free rides to chemo, free places to stay near hospitals, and a live 24/7 helpline for answers and support,” Wright said. You can still donate to Stonehill’s Relay For Life by visiting relayforlife.org/stonehillcollegema and keep up with the event until Friday, March 27 via Instagram @StonehillRelay and Facebook at facebook.com/RelayStonehill.