Giving Back

Friends, family, caregivers and cancer survivors united to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society at the Relay for Life of Moorhead Colleges event at Concordia College on April 11. At press time, 40 teams and 290 individuals teamed up to raise over $20,000 for cancer research.

The event at Concordia College’s Olson Forum was hosted by Moorhead Colleges Against Cancer, a student group comprised of members from Minnesota State University Moorhead, Concordia College and Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead. It featured food, games and fundraising opportunities as well as the team relay. “One person is always on the track for each team to show that the fight against cancer never stops,” said Moorhead Colleges Against Cancer Vice President Andrea Franz, a senior at Concordia College.

Many participants walk and decorate white luminaria bags to honor friends and family members who have battled cancer. Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams is one of them.

Williams walked for to honor her father, grandfather, brother and father-in-law who died from the disease, her spouse who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment and friends who have been impacted by the disease. “I’ve supported Relay for Life for many years now,” she said. “Cancer affects a lot of people in our community…I would guess that many of us have our own list of people we care about that have been affected.”