Group hopes to raise $100,000 for American Cancer Society
As more than 1,100 students prepare to "last all night" Friday, the Five Points fountain was dyed purple Wednesday for the first time in support of USC's 10th Relay for Life, the annual 12-hour fundraising event benefiting the American Cancer Society.
As of Wednesday evening, 1,177 participants had raised $71,368 toward this year's $100,000 goal. The top team, Alpha Chi Omega, had garnered $11,933 in donations, and second-year public relations student and Alpha Chi Omega member Kristin Haleski, the top individual fundraiser, raised $6,010.
Teams are drawn from different groups across campus, including fraternities and sororities and even the USC equestrian team.
The $100,000 goal, if it's reached, would be a record for Relay for Life.
"We want to make it the biggest and best it's ever been," said Public Relations Co-Chairman and fourth-year public relations student Dayna Cantelmi. "I think we will reach our goal; a lot of the fundraising happens the night of ... and even if we don't hit it on Friday night, we fundraise throughout August, and that counts towards this year's total."
USC has traditionally competed against Clemson in the fundraising event, but this year, USC will be competing against all participating South Carolina colleges and universities in a "battle of the states," according to Cantelmi.
"We'll be competing against Clemson, plus Furman, Wofford, College of Charleston and a whole bunch of other schools in the state," Cantelmi said. "Whoever gets the most money gets their school's name on the official shirt."
But when it comes down to it, the major focus of the weekend's event, running from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, will be keeping everyone awake.
"We'll have music all night. One or two bands will be there and we'll have a DJ also," Cantelmi said. "On top of that, we'll have Zumba going all night to keep people jazzed up and keep them involved."