Even with Ithaca College’s Relay for Life event still four months away, its chapter of Colleges Against Cancer is already set to kickoff the event.

On Monday, CAC hosted a number of events and performances in IC Square that helped promote cancer prevention and the celebration of its survivors.

    

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Check out the Relay For Life kickoff event.

   

Senior Daniel Wald, the co-chair of the college’s CAC, said he hoped around 100 people would come to the kickoff and that the guests would outnumber the number of people in the organization.

“Considering Colleges Against Cancer has 50 [members] — if we can get non-CAC members that would be great,” he said.

Junior Alyson Lee, co-chair of the entertainment committee of CAC, said she was not surprised there were so many people there from CAC. She also said she thought the event was a success.

“I think it went well, a lot of CAC members were here, which is typical,” she said. “It was a good way to get [members] thinking about it and raising money.”

During the kickoff, CAC showed videos of cancer survivors hoping to educate people on the measures that can be taken to prevent the disease. IC HipHop and Premium Blend, the college’s all-female a cappella group, also performed.

Freshman Molly McCann spoke at the event about her experience coping with her brother’s cancer. In 1995, he was diagnosed with a stem cell tumor at only three years old. He battled through extensive treatment and innovative surgery. She said the cancer is now contained but he will never go into remission.

She said she is gracious to those who have helped her family out during their hardship.

“Even through the time he had cancer people took care of him,” she said. “It makes me very hopeful and thankful for what people did.”

To McCann, it was second nature to join CAC when she got to college. She said she was glad to see Relay for Life at the college level and said people have gone out of their way to make her feel comfortable.

She said her brother doesn’t speak of his cancer, so she does it for him. She also said that he is going to participate in a Relay for Life survivor lap at the event at Cornell in March.

“My brother is very quiet about it so I am hoping to share his story because a lot of people can relate to it,” McCann said. “He is going to be at [Relay for Life]. He is getting geared up for it, he is excited to be there.”

On Monday, CAC said they were hoping to raise money as well as sign up captains for Relay for Life teams. Eventually, they said they want to host VIP events, exclusive to the to teams who have raised more than $250.

CAC has encouraged students and faculty to sign up for Relay for Life prior to second semester so that they can spend the time leading up to the event collecting donations.

CAC organizations across the country have raised more than $3 billion for the American Cancer Society — the largest fundraiser in the world. Last year Ithaca College and Cornell University, which combine their events, raised more than $250,000 with the help of more than 2,500 students.

This year CAC has already brought many events to campus, including co-sponsoring IC After Dark’s Halloween Party and the Pink Ribbon Ball held last month. Wald said the organization strives to educate people on preventative measures while having fun.

“We are about fun and supporting survivors, [since there are] survivors on this campus,” he said. “[We also] bring awareness and preventative measures.”

In the end, CAC said they have set a goal of $150,000 for the college to raise on its own. Cumulatively, they hope to raise more than $300,000 with Cornell University.

Wald said he just wants people to be aware of CAC and what they do.

“I really hope people will learn more about Colleges Against Cancer, the resources we have with the American Cancer Society.”