Collegiate Times

Joseph Reeff, a freshman mechanical engineering major, signs the "Why do You Relay?" sign outside of Dietrick Hall.

Erin Meyer has spent countless hours preparing for Relay for Life as hospitality management chair — but all her work will pay off tomorrow, because of a personal moment of hers from past events.

“I saw my mom struggling to complete the survivor’s lap, and I knew she was out there doing it for me,” said Meyer, a senior management major.

Diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, Meyer’s mother fought through her weakness. After having just finished her third round of chemotherapy, she made the traditional lap at the beginning of Relay for Life, a large fundraiser with proceeds that go to combating cancer.

After watching her mother battle cancer for more than two years, Meyer has been both inspired and motivated by her fight.

“I’d been involved with Relay for a few years, but right after I heard her news it made the reason why I was called to do this job so much more real,” Meyer said. “You just never know how this disease will affect you, so every single day we need to fight harder because one day we’ll find a cure in this lifetime.”

In her second year at her executive position, Meyer and her family are especially looking forward to tomorrow’s event — but in a different way than last year.

“Mom finished her chemo in October and is doing absolutely awesome,” Meyer said.

Her mom plans to complete the survivor’s lap by running this year.

“It will be a celebratory event for my family; we’re all so excited,” she said.

Meyer has transferred this inspiration into passion with her position on the executive committee for Relay for Life. This year is her second in the position and Meyer’s responsibilities include arranging hotels for out-of-town guests for the event, making arrangements for the Survivor’s Banquet and, most importantly, finding a way to feed the 6,000 people who will occupy the Drillfield for 12 hours starting tomorrow evening.

Vendors this year include Red Bull, Gumby’s Pizza, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Firehouse Pizza, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill to cater the banquet.

Meyer works closely with Kristen Walker, a senior international studies major and Relay’s entertainment chair. The two are part of an executive committee of 26 other students who work hard year-round to make the event grow each year.

With an expected 5,000-6,000 participants this year, Walker has put together an entertainment lineup to keep participants fighting like Hokies until sunrise.

Walker, who also first participated in Relay for Life in high school, was inspired to be more involved after having the prevalent disease hit close to home. When her grandmother lost her battle to cancer 10 years ago, it solidified Walker’s motivation to do something so others wouldn’t have to be affected by the disease. Walker has now met multiple people who have been diagnosed, which continues to serve as motivation.

“I am so inspired by both those who have died and who have survived,” Walker said.

After participating with Tech’s Relay for Life her two years, Walker was moved to become a member of the executive committee because of the passion she felt from the other members.

“They all feel very strongly about it, and I share their passion,” Walker said. “It’s a really great group.”

Walker has helped coordinate a group of speakers to ignite that same passion in participants this year, most from within the university. Ed Spencer, vice president for student affairs and a cancer survivor, will be speaking both about his own battle with the disease as well as the effect of losing his wife, Norrine, to cancer last year.

The family of Emily Dao, a Tech student who lost her life to cancer last summer, will also be sharing its story. Tech alumnus Paul Stevens will also be speaking. Stevens currently teaches general biology at Tech and commutes from Wake Forest, where he is undergoing chemotherapy for his rare form of cancer, multiple myeloma.

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A version of this article appeared in the Apr 8 issue of the Collegiate Times.