Aston University recently held a event ‘Relay for Life’, where students and residents from across Birmingham were invited to take part in a 24-hour walking relay to raise £11,000 for Cancer Research.
Organised by the student RAG Committee in conjunction with Cancer Research, the relay saw 15 teams of 8-15 people walk around the campus lake for a 24 hour period, with at least one member of each team having to be on the track at all times.
DJ’s and various Aston music bands were on hand to provide entertainment and keep spirits high, with food stalls and various fete style games adding to the atmosphere.
To maintain enthusiasm numerous relay activities took place, such as a three-legged lap, a limbo competition and army cadets doing press-ups in between their laps.
Having recently lost his aunt to cancer, final year student Alex Johnson wanted to help fight the battle against cancer. He decided to complete the full 24 hour challenge by himself and managed to raise £600.
During the event a 'Candle of Hope' ceremony took place with a minute silence, speeches from individuals who had fought cancer and a lap of honour to remember loved ones lost to the disease.
Each team member decorated a candle bag and placed it around the track at sunset with some placed to spell out ‘hope,’ which then changed to ‘cure’ during the lap of honour.
The purpose of the relay was to symbolise that cancer never stops, with the ceremony pointing out that there is always ‘hope’ for a ‘cure.’
Words by Eleanor Drew
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