Thursday, May 30, 2013

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University varsity athletes raised $10,315 in an American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser that culminated in mid-May.

Every Viking squad participated in the event, with an athlete walking on the campus track from noon Saturday, May 18, to 8 a.m. Sunday, May 19.

The WWU teams raising the most money were softball ($2,042), men’s soccer ($1,850), volleyball ($1,375), women’s basketball ($1,267), cheer ($1,275), women’s soccer ($952) and women’s rowing ($921).

Relay for Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Although its main objective is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients, the event is held to spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and unite a community in the fight against cancer.

Earlier this year, WWU Athletics raised $2,000 from four other fundraisers - Dig Pink (volleyball), Pink Zone (women's basketball), Coaches vs. Cancer (men's basketball), and Strikeout Cancer (softball).

This marks the third year that WWU Athletics has participated in Relay for Life. In 2011, the Vikings raised $10,000, and in 2012 they brought in $12,600.