For 18 consecutive hours, volunteers will be walking at Ping Recreation Center.
The Relay for Life fundraiser donates 100 percent of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.
The event, which begins at 5 p.m., has activities planned every hour, said Vikki Reigh, co-president of Relay For Life OU and a senior studying integrated mathematics.
“This year there is yoga, zumba, and a glow-in-the-dark 5K at 1 a.m.,” Reigh said.
Individuals and teams can pre-register online or register at the event.
“We encourage people to register online to raise money for Relay and to get statistics for how many people attend,” Reigh said.
Chad Gardner, a Relay For Life specialist who staffs OU’s event, said participants who register online and raise $100 receive a free event t-shirt.
“The event goal is $46,000,” Gardner said. “We are hoping to get close by the end of the event and pass the goal with post-event fundraising efforts by teams and the planning committee.”
This year, Relay for Life OU has 45 teams, with more than 500 participants, and have raised roughly $26,000 as of Thursday for Friday’s event.
Reigh said “I know we’re the largest funding organization on campus, but pretty sure we’re not the biggest.”
Reigh said the event usually raises between $40,000 and $50,000 each year.
During the week, Relay For Life OU “painted the campus purple” with tabling in Baker, painting the graffiti wall and with Relay Man — who dressed in a full body, purple, spandex suit — walking around campus.
“In previous years, we’ve had a human wishing well and buckets collecting change and donations on Court Street,” Reigh said.
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 percent of deaths and is the fourth leading cause of death in people aged 20 to 39, behind accidents, suicide, and homicide, according to the American Cancer Society’s website.
“Survivors are our main reason to celebrate at Relay,” Gardner said. “We have a great schedule of events on tap, and I feel very confident about this year’s Relay For Life event.”
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