Denison's second annual Relay for Life, "Erasing Cancer from our Vocabulary," will take place this Friday and Saturday (April 16-17) in the Mitchell Recreation and Athletics Center on the University campus. Relay for Life is a 24-hour walk-a-thon sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

Opening ceremonies will take place at 6 p.m. Friday and all cancer survivors will take the first lap around the track. Participants form teams and at least one member from every team is responsible for walking at all times during the event. Approximately 600 students are expected to participate, representing 20 student organizations on campus. There are also teams from the local community and high schools.

A special luminary ceremony will take place at 9:15 Friday night at Deeds Field, Piper Stadium. Pastors from local churches will read the names of those who have been affected by cancer.

In addition to showcasing student musical talents during the event, there will be a number of stations set up to profile the population's leading diagnosed cancers including lung, breast, skin, oral, and bone. The stations will be open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. Closing ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Last year's Relay netted $52,000 for cancer research. The Relay for Life Planning Committee is hoping to increase that to $65,000 this year. For more information or to get involved, contact Elizabeth Ross at ross_em@denison.edu or by phone at (740) 587-9021.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575