Relay For Life of Shepherd University is to be held Apr. 8-9, 2016 at the Shepherd University Wellness Center. Excitement is building as the relay collaborates with the installation ceremony of Shepherd University’s 16th president, Dr. Mary Hendrix. The student-run committee is thrilled to work on this collaborative effort of huge importance for the university,not only because Dr. Hendrix is an alum of Shepherd University, but she has spent her career assisting with cancer research. The planning committee for Relay was delighted to meet Hendrix and and look forward to witnessing the installation ceremony.

Following the ceremony, all guests and Relay participants will be invited to the Butcher Center Plaza at 4:30p.m. for the annual torch lighting. Relay coordinators feel this will be a fitting conclusion to Hendrix’s installation.

Teams, survivors, committee members and the general public are all invited to participate in this historic torch lighting before proceeding to the Wellness Center for the kick off of the Relay for Life event.

Teams from the campus and community have planned fundraisers to take place in the arena from 5 p.m. on Friday to 4 a.m. on Saturday. Some of the fundraisers include raffles, games, prop photo booth, lap beads, face painting, cookie decorating, Twister, silent auction, wish bracelets, wing eating contests and more. Food such as hot dogs, nachos, quesadillas, pulled pork, chips, coleslaw and drinks will be available for purchase.

The luminaria candle lighting memorial ceremony will be taking place at 9:45 p.m. Visitors and guests can purchase luminaria in honor or in memory of someone until 8p.m. on site at the Wellness Center. During this special and somber event, each name of a purchased candle is read aloud.

So far, 36 teams and 393 participants have raised $17,533.15

Donations are still being accepted at www.shepherd.edu/relayfor life and checks payable to the American Cancer Society can be sent to the Office of Student Engagement at Shepherd University. For more information, visit www.shepherd.edu/relayforlife.