Relay for Life: GU Tops National Colleges

The American Cancer Society recently honored Georgetown for its outstanding efforts in making its 2008 Relay for Life the most successful college Relay event in the country.

Georgetown hosted RFL for the first time in 2007, raising over $277,000, the largest first-time total ever raised by a college. Last year, in only its second year, the university raised over $380,000, hosting the number-one college RFL event nationwide, according to an ACS press release. Georgetown also had the highest level of student participation, with a per capita donation of $33.05.

“The 2008 Relay for Life event can be explained in one word — unprecedented,” Jennifer Donley (COL ’10), RFL 2009 co-chair, said. “Relay had about 2,800 participants in 2008 — close to half the undergraduate community,” she said. “I don’t think any other event on campus gets that kind of turnout, and certainly not one as new as Relay. Our campus truly came together in solidarity to do its part in the fight against cancer.”

While months of preparation go into the planning of RFL, students’ efforts were rewarded after seeing the success of the event. The recognition from ACS adds to that gratification.

“I can't tell you how much work goes into this event. It is one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life. But the bottom line is no one can do it alone. The most rewarding part of the experience is knowing that our team was the best in the country,” Frank O’Driscoll (MSB ’08), co-chair of last year’s RFL event, said.

Last year’s event was marked by live entertainment, an obstacle course and other group activities. About 190 teams set up tents on the Multi-Sports Field and spent the night circling the field for the cause. This year, the Georgetown RFL committee is raising their target fundraising level to $500,000 and would like to increase the number of participants, including cancer survivors, faculty and staff, and Law and Medical Center students.

“We also want to get more cancer survivors out to our event this year for the survivor lap and reception,” Donley said. “Cancer survivors are the heart of Relay For Life, and we want the students participating to feel more connected with these amazing people.”

This year, the RFL committee will also be teaming up with the Lombardi Center, the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodges and other organizations to get Georgetown students more connected with the cause.

“I work in a Hope Lodge now in [New York City] and a few weeks back I remember a man who I met in the lobby started crying [and] saying, ‘If it wasn't for the American Cancer Society, I would have had to sell my house to get treatment,’” O’Driscoll said. “No one should die because they can't afford it; that's not acceptable. The money Georgetown made helped to build Hope Lodge. So again, it's not about the money, it's about what the money can do.”

Georgetown expects staunch competition this year for the number one position from Virginia Tech, who vied for the spot for the past two years. Nonetheless, the RFL committee is confident that with greater involvement from members of the Georgetown community, the university will be able to hold on to the top spot.

“We have to start pushing our students to get involved early and look at Relay as not just an ‘event in the spring’ but rather, an ongoing movement to end cancer,” Donley said.

—Hoya Staff Writer Dawn Hu contributed to this article