Relay for Life Kicks Off

October 31, 2009 • Katie Giel  
Filed under News

Relay for Life is always a huge event for Ahwatukee, and this year, the hope is that it’s even bigger. This Thursday was the kickoff to start it all.

When Desert Vista students think of Relay, they think of Mr. Mark Honaker. Mr. Honaker makes the event possible for students and promotes it on the campus. His pride in the event is evident.

“The Ahwatukee Relay is known as one of the valley’s largest and most productive. The combination of the energy and commitment of both Mountain Pointe and DV is huge and the community’s contributions grow every year,” said Mr. Honaker.

The kickoff event this Thursday consisted of entertainment, food, and the opportunity to register teams for the event this April. Registration costs just $50 even if the team’s roster is not entirely filled yet. Don’t worry though, teams still have the opportunity to register up until two weeks prior to the event and can do so by seeing Mr. Honaker in A149 or by emailing him at onegoodturn@hotmail.com.

This year, Ahwatukee’s goal is to have over 150 teams and raise a quarter of a million dollars.

So what is Relay for Life? Relay for Life is a fundraising event held annually for cancer research.

“Relay is the number one source of community dollars that go directly to research and local support of cancer victims and their families,” said Mr. Honaker. “It is a very genuine and direct line to help those who battle this disease.”

During the event, teams try to keep one member constantly walking or running the track. Food, drinks, fun, and entertainment fill the campus.

The event itself takes place over two days, April 17^th and 18^th. It will start at 1 PM and end at about 7 AM.

If you are unable to participate in the relay, there are still other things you can do. Mr. Honaker says that referring a survivor to the network so they can be included in the celebrations, joining a committee to help prepare for the relay, or giving a lead on a business or band that can be apart of the event are all extremely important things that you can do to help make this event a success.

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