Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

GU Breaks Relay for Life Fundraising Record

Bright lights and large crowds may not be an unusual sight on the Multi-Sport Facility, but this Friday night it was not a lacrosse game that was drawing the crowd.

Over 2,600 students, live performances, a 60-foot inflatable obstacle course and rows of tents filled the football field Friday in Georgetown’s second Relay For Life. Throughout the night, participants walked laps around the field, held eating contests, joined in an energy drink flip cup contest and participated in an enormous game of Duck, Duck, Goose.

But the event was more than just games: Georgetown finished first in fundraising this year among all Relay For Life events across the nation with a record-breaking $382,000, an amount that even surpassed its first-place finish of $277,000 last year. The funds that were raised go directly to the American Cancer Society.

According to Frank O’Driscoll (MSB ’08), Relay For Life co-chair, 188 teams worked to raise money before spending the night taking laps and camping out on the field during the relay.

Georgetown drew ahead of other universities in the fundraising rankings in the final stretch leading up to the event. Ranked third on April 7 behind the University of Michigan and Cornell University, Georgetown seemed as if it would not spend a second year in a row in first place. However, one week later, Georgetown raised over $60,000 more in online donations to vault to the top spot not only for colleges and universities, but also for all of the 5,000 Relay For Life events held across the nation.

By Friday, the university was sitting comfortably in the number-one spot for per capita donations, as well as for all online donations.

Participation this year skyrocketed, as last year’s 1,450 registered participants jumped to over 2,600 this year, O’Driscoll said.

Because the popularity of the event exceeded expectations, the planning committee relocated the event from Kehoe Field, where it was initially going to be held, to the Multi-Sport Facility. The committee also consolidated the number of teams from 186 to 112 due to space constraints.

Georgetown Relay Entertainment Chair Nathan Pinkus (SFS ’09), who organized the Duck, Duck, Goose game, said that 1,668 people participated, breaking the previously held world record of 1,450. The attempt was submitted to the Guinness World Records, but Pinkus said he is still awaiting a response.

“The . record attempt was a huge success,” Pinkus said. “I am really happy with how smoothly the event went and excited to hear from Guinness regarding the record.”

Earlier in the evening, the participants solemnly joined together in a traditional Relay event, the luminary walk, which is held in memory of those who have died from cancer.

“The luminaria ceremony was touching for everyone there,” GUGS team captain Greg Mottla (COL ’10) said. “Most of us know someone affected by cancer, and to see the survivors there, so impacted by the event, makes us understand how big the issue is we are fighting for.”

A variety of student groups also provided entertainment at the event, including the Phantoms, Chimes and Gracenotes. Rangila and Groove Theory performed, as well as participants from the Mask and Bauble production of “Cabaret.” Student rock bands DogVegas and Nines & Dimes and rapper Phil Street also provided entertainment during the evening.

Driscoll said the organizers and participants put in a lot of effort to make Georgetown’s event the best in the nation.

“It is an intense amount of effort, but that’s exactly why we are the number-one [fundraising] event in the nation,” he said.

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