Published: March 30, 2011

Relay for Life at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) will take place on April 9 on the outdoor Plaza of Lowenstein. FCLC’s chapter of Colleges against Cancer (CAC) has been preparing all year for the event, including their Purple Dance Party on March 3. The event was coordinated to raise awareness and participation for Relay for Life. The event’s main spectacle was an all-night dance-a-thon.

CAC at FCLC works to provide students with the opportunity to fundraise and organize events on campus. Co-directors of the fundraising team Purple Parrots, Kitty Buehler and Katie Leonard have commenced preparations for CAC’s largest fundraiser, Relay for Life.

Observer: How is CAC preparing for Relay for Life?

Katie Leonard: We are making sure that everyone that comes to the Purple Dance Party is registered for the Relay for Life event. We will have registration available on the night of the event so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the party. Other than that, we just want to spread the word as much a possible; the bigger the turn out, the more fun it will be!

Observer: How much have you raised so far? And what is your goal for this year?

KL: Currently we have raised almost $6,000. Our goal for this year is $25,000. It seems like a lot of money, but it’s totally possible if each participant contributes whatever he or she can. My team, Purple Parrots, has raised $800 and our goal is $2,500.

Observer: Is it more or less than last year?

KL: Fortunately, it is more than last year. Last year we raised over $17,000, which is fantastic, but we know we can totally beat that!

Observer: Who is the highest Fordham fundraising team?

Kitty Buehler: In terms of Fordham teams, it’s kind of a close race so far.  I think CAB is winning at the moment with $847.

Observer: What about non-Fordham fundraisers?

KB: Ray Garvey’s Rays of Hope has raised an impressive $1,400.  The captain of the team is Joe Moffa, a stand-up comedian from the area who recently lost his dear friend Ray Garvey to cancer.  He chose to participate in Fordham’s Relay event because April 9 is very close to the anniversary of his friend’s passing.  He’s fundraising by donating all the money he gets from his CD sales at his shows.

Observer: What are you doing to fundraise?

KB: Teams do all kinds of crazy things, but my team, the Purple Parrots, is mostly selling baked goods.  I’m a big fan of designing crazy cupcakes, so we decided to do a cupcake delivery around the dorms.

KL: As a committee, CAC is holding a bake sale every Tuesday from 11:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. on the Plaza. At Relay, we will have a Luminaria Ceremony to remember loved ones we have lost to cancer, those currently battling and those who have won their battle. At the bake sales, we sell the Luminaria for a donation of $5. CAC is also going to have a tabling competition.  We’ll reserve a time slot for you and your team to table on the Plaza and whichever team raises the most money wins an undisclosed, but very cool, prize.

Observer: What other events do you have planned?

KL: Besides the Purple Dance Party and the bake sales, CAC also tries to make trips to the Hope Lodge. The Hope Lodge is a free place for those who are battling cancer to stay while they are receiving treatment in NYC. We recently visited the patients there, cooked a pasta dinner for them, played some board games and hung out with them. Other than that, our main/final event is Relay for Life on April 9.