DePaul’s Colleges Against Cancer chapter celebrated The American Cancer Society’s 100th anniversary Friday, April 5, at the Ray Meyer Fitness Center with their annual Relay for Life. Colleges Against Cancer has been on DePaul’s campus since 2004. CAC sponsors Relay for Life, a 12-hour walk that benefits the American Cancer Society. Each year, more than 4 million people in more than 20 countries take part in this global experience to raise funds and awareness.

Relay’s organized event involves teams fundraising together with a common goal: to celebrate those lost and loved, to honor those who survived and to increase research funding. Kaelyn Zynda, cancer survivor and DePaul’s CAC co-chair for the Survivorship Committee, was responsible for ensuring that survivors and caregivers were properly honored for their courageous battles against cancer.

Zynda and her co-chair Haley St. Paul plan a dinner for them to attend, a survivor victory lap, and the Luminaria Ceremony in which the participants and the committee honored those who lost their battle and those still fighting. The relay brings together old and new friends with common interests. DePaul senior Catie Mendoza has been a member of Colleges Against Cancer for four years. Mendoza has held many roles in CAC, but has been president of the club since 2011.

“It brings the community together based on the common goal that we want to eradicate cancer,” said Mendoza. “To me, relay is a time for individuals to come together and share how cancer has affected them.” Relay’s goal for participants and fundraising continues to increase each year. This year DePaul’s Colleges Against Cancer’s goal was to have 800 participants, 70 teams, and to raise $50,000.

“We have a lot of new activities for participants, great prizes and entertainment,” said Mendoza. “But our mission will always be the same, to promote cancer advocacy.” On campus clubs like DePaul Dance Company, DePaul Men’s a Capella, Gospel Choir, Young Life and many others helped keep participants up and motivated by performing at the walk.

This year 49 teams signed up online, which included more than 600 participants. After the 12-hour walk, CAC had raised $48,000. CAC plans to have fundraisers on and off campus to raise money for cancer awareness. Although the committee did not reach their goal, they weren’t discouraged. “Relay had an amazing turnout this year,” said Zynda. “There were a lot of different DePaul clubs and organizations represented, and not to mention some community groups as well.”