April 22nd, 2015

Page 1

Student workers honored pg. 7

RELAY FOR LIFE

St. John’s starts Spring Week pg. 3

Find out what happened this week in showbiz pg. 11

Men’s tennis coach doubles for the women’s team pg. 14

Relay participants console one another on the emotional day.

NA PALERMO

ALL PHOTOS/GI

BRIDGET HIGGINS Staff Writer St. John ’s 10th annual Relay For Life event, held in Carnesecca Arena last weekend, proved to be a record breaking event. The St. John’s community gathered to celebrate, honor and fight for those affected by cancer. Mary Pelkowski, associate dean for student engagement, said, “This Relay For Life was extremely historic. It was our 10th Annual Fundraising Celebration and we broke all three records. We had the most teams, most participants and raised the most money in SJU history.” The Disney-themed event brought in nearly 126 teams and 1,700 student participants, in addition to administration, faculty and volunteers. The event, which spanned from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, raised over $114,000. Relay For Life began with a touching opening ceremony, the annual Luminaria ceremony and the survivors lap.

“I’m looking forward to the whole event because it’s just so magical, especially the OpenThree students hold up ing Ceremony because it’s a their luminarias in support time for people to reflect,” of cancer research. Relay For Life chair, sophomore Catherine Sheehan said. The Luminaria ceremony seemed A Relay to be an emotional time for many at the event. On a paper bag, partici- committee member pants wrote a person’s name or a small hugs a cancer survivor. message about why they Relay. During Luminaria, everyone held his or her bag with a lit glow stick inside. First, event staff instructed current cancer patients to hold up their bags, then survivors and caregivers. Lastly, those fighting for a cure held up their bags. Afterward, participants set their Luminaria bags down along the border of the track. Sophomore Richard Cantoral was looking forward to the Luminaria ceremony most of all. “It’s very powerful,” Cantoral said. After Luminaria, participants and volunteers alike sat to watch a slideshow of those who have died because


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