Starting at 5 p.m. last Saturday and ending at 7 a.m. last Sunday, more than 300 participants spent the night participating in Winona State University’s Relay for Life.
The relay was put on by Winona State’s Colleges Against Cancer with help from the American Cancer Society. This was its fifth year at Winona State, but Relay for Life started in 1985.
According to Michelle Camerer, President of Colleges Against Cancer, the all-night event raises money for cancer research and other American Cancer Society programs.
“Other examples are the Hope Lodge, a place for patients to stay for long-term treatment away from their home, and programs to support newly diagnosed patients,” Camerer said.
With the intention of raising money for these programs, Colleges Against Cancer sets a goal for how much money they hope to raise.
“This year we beat our goal of $40,000,” Camerer said. “We are still waiting for official results.”
While the event was going on, several fundraisers were happening at the same time. Events include a silent auction, food sales, games of Wii, game tournaments and a Mr. Relay pageant.
“Mr. Relay pageant is a male drag show,” Camerer said. “This event is a huge hit that everyone loves. This year it raised over $400 in only 30 minutes.”
The majority of participants are a part of teams.
This year there were 35 different teams, but other people participate as well, according to Camerer.
She said people who are not on teams still come to walk around the track and to purchase items at the different fundraisers.
For some students, this isn’t their first year participating in the Relay.
Many said they have participated in the past four years of Winona State’s Relay for Life.
“I have been participating in Relay for Life for seven years,” Camerer said. “The last two years I have been participating here and on the committee. This year I am both the survivorship co-chair and the Colleges Against Cancer and Relay for Life co-chair.”
Some students said they participated for family and friends who had been affected by cancer or to get involved with a good cause.
Annie Stadstad, a junior at Winona State, participated for her third year.
“I was looking for something to get involved with when I got to college, and I have a personal stake in cancer research because I have had many family and friends who have been affected by the disease,” Stadstad said. “It seemed like a good place to start once I got to college.”
According to Stadstad, Relay for Life is a great cause.
She said one reason is because almost everyone will be affected by cancer in some way and it helps students connect.
“I don’t think I have ever been to an event on campus where students are able to come together in quite the same way to fight for one cause,” Stadstad said. “You only have to attend the event once to get hooked and to keep coming back every year.”
According to the Relay for Life website, more than 3.5 million people participate in relay each year.

Contact Courtney at CLZinter8738@winona.edu