On April 5, Relay For Life (RFL) held its annual day-long walkathon fundraiser event at Coastal Carolina University’s Blanton Park for the 18th year running; and this years beach theme, “waving goodbye to cancer,” was a huge success.
A day of fun festivities like face painting, hair tinsel, games and team competitions attracted attendees as extra fundraising opportunities. The main event, the walkathon, lasted 12 hours. The goal was to have at least one member per team always walking because “cancer never stops.”
All money raised through Relay is donated to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Donations are used to fund cancer treatment research, as well as to supporting resources for those affected by cancer.
Taylor Balint, a senior communication major, is president of CCU’s RFL. For her senior year, Balint set a record-breaking fundraising goal of $135,000, the most the school has ever raised.
“I firmly believe the higher goal you have, the more people will help you reach that goal,” Balint said.
Relay is currently at $152,000 raised. While fundraising is technically closed, Balint said their total has the potential to keep increasing from uncounted matched donations.
“It’s a fun, thrilling day celebrating, honoring, remembering and fighting back,” Balint said.
Balint Relays for her mother, who she lost to cancer before graduating high school, as well as her grandfather, who also passed away from cancer last December.
“I relay because I have so many people connected to me, so many people close to me, that have died or have just been affected and then their life is different afterwards,” Balint said. “But also, after Relaying for quite some time now I literally just do it for everybody because [cancer] sucks.”
Since joining Coastal’s RFL in February of 2022, Balint individually raised over $32,000 for the ACS. This year, she set a goal of $10,000. She surpassed her personal goal by raising over $13,000.
A Survivor’s Ceremony was held near the end of the event, where cancer survivors and their caregivers did a special lap around the park to receive goodie bags and lunch from local businesses’ donations.
“We honor the survivors and their caregivers’ because they’re the most important part of our day. Because they are a reflection of what we do,” Balint said.
At sundown was the Luminaria Ceremony. During this ceremony, participants decorated Luminarias to honor loved ones fighting cancer or in memory of those lost.
“We are always planning,” RFL’s Vice President of Engagement Isabella Mezzenga said, a junior biology major. “The president and I last July actually went to a conference in Chicago because we were part of the 10 colleges in America to do so well. So, we started planning then.”
Mezzenga lost her grandmother to cancer last year. This loss drives her desire to do meaningful work with Relay.
In 2024, CCU’s RFL ranked No. 6 out of all colleges participating nationwide for fundraising. Relay fundraises in numerous ways. They raised over $5,000 from selling teal ribbon labels. The Mr. And Miss Relay Pageant raised over $2,000. Contestants showcased a unique talent, sang, danced and shared why Relay was important to them.
Chant Rock, another Relay fundraiser, was a recent hit. Teams choreographed and performed elaborate talent routines.
In February, CCU placed No. 1 in the national Fund the Mission Challenge, where participating schools raced to raise the most funds in 72 hours for ACS. CCU raised over $40,000, more than double the University of South Carolina’s second place total of about $14,500. Balint was the No. 1 fundraiser, reaching over $8,000 herself.
As the winning team, they were granted a monetary prize to use toward later Relay events. The money went toward renting a tiki waterslide for students, staff and guests to enjoy during the Relay For Life event.
Katie Whelan, a senior political science major, is vice president of operations for CCU’s RFL. As a member of Relay since she was 12 and a CCU RFL member since her freshman year, Whelan believes the organization helps youth get involved in their mission.
“Relay does a really good job of trying to involve students, and through Relay we try to educate people each week with our meetings.” Whelan said. “So, you’re not only participating in Relay on campus but you’re also gaining that little bit of information to know what you’re raising money for and where it’s going.”
