At Florida State University’s (FSU) Relay For Life, College of Communication and Information (CCI) students are helping transform a night of walking into meaningful change.  Relay For Life, which started in Washington as a 24-hour event over 40 years ago, is a 12-hour fundraising event created to help advocate and fundraise in support of cancer research through the American Cancer Society. The event ran from sunset to sunrise to symbolize the continuous battle faced by those affected by the disease. Funds are raised through social media efforts and on-site sales of games, food, and other activities.  

“They have survivors, caregivers, and businesses come from the Tallahassee community, but then there’s also a ton of other organizations and even other colleges”, said Bella Bozied, team captain for CCI’s Relay for Life team.   

Raising over $200,000 this year, FSU’s Relay for Life united teams from across campus in support of cancer research. Among them, the CCI team—one of just two colleges involved—stood out by raising over $2,300 through tabling and sales of their choosing. 

“We were selling ‘Nothing Bundt Cakes’, we were selling them for $4. Around 5:00pm, we ran out, and they had to go pick up more, but there were multiple people at the table too. So, if we wanted to walk around or go buy other things, we could”, said Ava Paglia, a CCI team participant.  

Throughout the event, participants supported other teams in their efforts to fundraise for the fight against cancer. Most teams are made up of FSU organizations and clubs, or of Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council (IFC) chapters. Through CCI’s participation in Relay for Life, the college is opening a door for other colleges to form their own teams and join the cause.  

“It’s been very sweet […] for two years in a row now to see CCI come together,” said Bozied. “I feel like we’re leading the way for other colleges to feel like they can come. I’m sure other colleges have had teams before, but I think it’s hard to maintain that.” 

Beyond fundraising, Relay for Life helps create a community of people who can come together and lean on one another through difficult times. The event creates a space for individuals to share their experiences, connect with others, and recognize the wide-reaching impact of cancer – not only on patients, but also on their families and friends.

“Relay for Life supports the American Cancer Society, so it doesn’t just support people who have cancer, but also their families. It shows that people have to live through cancer”, said Bozied, “People can come and table with us where they fundraise, they can do fun team activities, like tug of war, and then also hear from survivors and caregivers and even share their own stories if they want to.” 

CCI’s continued involvement in the event reflects a greater sense of community, Bozied said. “It’s just a true testament to how CCI is so interdisciplinary and truly cares about its community,” she said. “I think it really speaks for our students, our faculty and staff, and even our alumni as well.”