Relay for Life Committee plans 2014 event
After raising $127,500 in 2013, according to the Blue Valley Schools Communications Department, the Blue Valley Southwest Relay for Life Committee has been busy planning Relay for Life 2014, which is an annual fundraiser hosted by Blue Valley Southwest, Blue Valley West and Blue Valley High that raises money for cancer research.
“Over the next few months we are trying to spread the word about Relay for Life,” Relay for Life Committee co-chairman junior Kyle Mersch said. “These next few months are crucial to rally as many people as we can to get involved to make this year great.”
In 2013 the three schools, which included 1,100 participants, ranked 10th in the nation in total income. This year the committee, which is made up of students selected to be on the committee after submitting an application based on their activities and involvement in the community, will be planning for an even larger event. The 2013 event, which was held in the Southwest gym, was such a success in both size and numbers that Relay for Life 2014, held from March 7-8 2014, will be hosted at Johnson County Community College. The committee also hopes to raise $130,000.
“We expect with our outreach and goals set for this year that we can blow that number out of the water,” Mersch said.
Relay for Life is an event close to Mersch’s heart after losing his father due to complications from leukemia two years ago.
“My reason [to be involved in Relay for Life] is to do my part to help find a cure to cancer so that maybe one day a kid like me won’t have to grow up without a dad because they have died of cancer,” Mersch said.
The 24 hour even includes multitude of activities for participants to do to keep them busy including listening to talks from cancer survivors.
“My favorite [part] is the survivors’ talks,” committee member sophomore Lindsay Green said. “[I like] hearing the stories of people.”
Committee members are looking forward to spreading awareness and getting the community involved in an important cause.
“I am looking forward to help making Relay for Life awesome this year,” committee member sophomore Sara Stowe said.
