On Friday, April 22, starting at 5 p.m., Virginia Tech will host Relay For Life for the 15th consecutive year. Relay For Life at Virginia Tech is a fundraising effort that benefits the American Cancer Society. The year-long endeavor culminates in the spring semester event on the Drillfield.

Since 2009, Virginia Tech has been the world’s No. 1 collegiate Relay For Life. At last year’s event, $518,537 was raised. More than 6,000 participants and 394 teams packed onto the Drillfield, all driven by a passion to fight cancer, support survivors, and honor the lives of those lost. Since Virginia Tech began participating in Relay for Life in 2001, a record-breaking $5 million has been raised. 

Relay For Life as seen in aerial view
More than 6,000 participants and 394 teams packed onto the Drillfield at last year's event.

Holly Middaugh of Lynchburg, Virginia, a senior majoring in human development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, is a member of the executive committee for Virginia Tech’s Relay For Life. 

“One of my favorite traditions of the night is taking my committee members up to the top of Slusher Tower to look down over the event,” said Middaugh. “It’s always a surreal experience to see our campus come together to fight back and take action against a disease that has taken too much.”

This year’s Relay For Life will include performances by student groups and musicians, speakers and ceremonies throughout the night, and interactive booths sponsored by various organizations on campus.

To learn more about Virginia Tech’s Relay For Life, please visit vtrelay.org

Written by Hayley Childress of Virginia Beach, Virginia, a senior majoring in public relations in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

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