The first Iona College Relay for Life was able to raise $31,135 for the American Cancer Society with a turnout of over 400 attendees and 300 participants.

The event, which was held on April 12 in the Hynes Center, lasted from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. and saw 35 teams from Iona compete with each other to raise money for cancer research.

Sophomore Kaitlin Winterroll, one of the co-presidents of Colleges Against Cancer, spoke about what it was like to get Relay For Life to happen at Iona.

“We had the idea a long time ago after seeing Loyola doing it and we wanted to bring it to Iona because of the community that we have here,” Winterroll said. “First we had to go through the Office of Student Development and make a club because it has to be sponsored. Brother Kevin Devlin is the advisor, and as a cancer survivor himself, was a huge supporter.”

“Then, with help from our American Cancer Society staff partner Megan, we learned the ropes of how to start a Relay For Life,” said sophomore Gina Tomaj, the organization’s other co-president.

Before the event had even taken place, Iona was able to raise a little over $25,000.

The Gamma Lambda Rho sorority raised over $10,000. Monica’s Beasts in East raised over $2,900, the most for a non-Greek organization, and senior Danielle Solicito personally raised $855.

Both Gamma Lambda Rho and Monica’s Beasts in East were recognized for this accomplishment with a banner from the American Cancer Society.

Junior Sam Sakakini, the vice president of Gamma Lambda Rho, went into detail on their involvement with the event.

“Cancer hits home for a lot of us, it was something that we were passionate about and we ran with it,” Sakakini said. “We held events on and off campus, campaigned to family and friends through social media, and sold bracelets and lollipops on campus to raise the money.”

The sorority also helped contribute in other ways.

“We also helped corral food donations from places all over Westchester and Long Island, which turned out to be 75+ pizzas and 350+ wings, among other things,” said Sakakini. “A big thanks goes to Texas Roadhouse, Gemelli, Iron Pizza, Burke’s Restaurant, Beechmont, Chicken Joe’s, Dunkin’ Donuts and others for all the donations that helped fuel the cause.”

The actual relay was all fun and games, with students competing against each other in a wing eating contest and challenging the dance team in a dance contest.

Participants also came together to practice some Zumba and to shave the heads of willing participants.

The rugby team got into the fun when they traded clothes with the Gamma girls.

Brother Devlin, who helped kick off the event with a speech and prayer, reflected on the event and how it has unfolded since the idea was first brought to him.

“It’s not surprising that this has grown because of the Iona students,” Devlin said. “Our students learn what has to be done, and they go and do it.”

After such an enthusiastic initial response, the event is sure to see even greater success in future years.