University Star

Students and their loved ones will battle cancer Friday during Texas State’s fourth annual Relay for Life.

This year’s theme is “Declare War on Cancer.” Participants are encouraged to race for the cure in their best camouflage outfits.

Candice Pajestka, interdisciplinary studies senior, and Melika Abrahams, nursing junior, are members of the logistics team for Colleges against Cancer. This year they are in charge of organizing Relay for Life.

“Right now, it’s crunch time,” Pajestka said. “We’ve been busy running around getting donations and sponsorships from local businesses.”

Pajestka said at least 47 student organizations including fraternities and the Quidditch team are participating in this year’s relay. Chi Beta Delta, a service sorority, raised more than $5,000.
All donated money will be sent to the American Cancer Association and to patients in the Hays County/Austin area.

“We’ve been going to every business we can think of,” Abrahams said. “We’ve been planning since September. This is our first year doing it so we’ll see what happens.”

Relay for Life is a 12-hour event that will start April 20 at 6 p.m. In previous years, the event was held at the track field by Bobcat Stadium. Due to recent construction, this year’s relay will occur in the gymnasium at the Student Recreation Center.

“It’s a different venue, so we plan on making it bigger and better,” Pajestka said. “We’re going to be like little policemen running around directing everything.”

According to the American Cancer Association, 50 percent of all men and one-third of all women in the U.S. will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime.

Pajestka and Abrahams lost their grandfathers to cancer. They said because of their history, they feel a personal connection to the cause.

“Everyone has a story,” Pajestka said. “When I went to Texas State’s Boxer Night, people were asked how many of them were affected by cancer. The majority of the room stood up.”

The Logistics team will be in the Quad April 17 and in LBJ April 18 to promote the cause. They will be selling T-shirts for ten dollars to encourage students to sign up.

In order to register, students can visit the Relay for Life website and click on the university’s page. Pajestka and Abrahams’ team will be one of many at the event ensuring all goes smoothly and that donations are collected.