Collegiate Times

Relay members pass out balloons to raise awareness, yesterday.

The Virginia Tech Relay for Life executive board — which holds the annual event that raises money for the American Cancer Society — is in its home stretch, as it prepares for the all-night affair on the Drillfield next month. 

This year, the event will take place on April 20 starting at 6 p.m. — participants will “relay” into the wee hours of the next morning.  

Fundraising efforts are already in full swing for the highly anticipated event, which explains why Tech has had the No. 1 Collegiate Relay for the last several years, raising more money for the ACS than any other college. Last year, Tech raised $630,000 — the largest amount in its history.  

Amanda Krieger, the public relations executive for Relay, said the event’s growing success can be attributed to the executive board’s involvement.

“... the executive board (has made) it part of their everyday lives. We stay up all night, doing everything we can to get the word out and think of creative fundraisers like ‘10 for 10,’” Krieger, a senior communication major, said.

“10 for 10” is a fundraising initiative the executive board started three years ago in an attempt to raise $10,000 every day for 10 successive days.

The event has been a success the past two years, raising a little more than $100,000. This year, the executive committee is hoping for an even better outcome through corporate sponsorship.

Moe’s Southwestern Grill is sponsoring “10 for 10” this year, which Krieger believes has the potential for a huge success.

“Moe’s is a way bigger difference from last year,” Krieger said. “The last few years, we have reached our goal. This year, with Moe’s, we are hoping to exceed our goal.”

This Friday is “Moe’s Day” — a day when all of the restaurant’s proceeds will be donated to Relay. In addition, the first 200 people in line that morning, starting at 11 a.m., will get a free burrito every week for an entire year.

Regardless of the outcome on that day, Moe’s has already pledged to meet the day’s goal of $10,000.

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A version of this article appeared in the Mar 22 issue of the Collegiate Times.