The American Cancer Society hosted the 6th annual Oakland University Relay for Life fundraiser last Friday at the Rec Center.

The event featured over 20 teams of students accepting donations in exchange for various goods or services like brownies, necklaces, popcorn as other team members walked around the gym.

Relay for Life is the largest fundraiser offered by the ACS. This year, OU raised $20,160 dollars during the 12-hour. Over 320 students participated in the event.

“The different social organizations, fraternities, sororities, academic organizations make this event,” said Kerri Dhyse, associate director of ACS. “This has been one of the best events I have seen on campus with the amount of participation.”

More then 15 student organizations were represented at the event.

Relay for Life began in 1985 as Dr. Gordy Klatt circled a track for 24 hours without rest. Since then, 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities around the U.S. have taken part in Relay for Life.

Every year a theme is set for the fundraiser. This year’s theme was “superheroes.” Teams dressed and modeled their activities after a chosen superhero.

The Pre-Dental Society wore Power Ranger costumes. Renee Szeliga, a senior majoring in nursing, was the team captain of the Student Nurses Association whose theme was “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

“We did our best to make our corner look like a sewer,” said Szeliga.

SNA contributed over $7,000 dollars last year at Relay for Life.

The event may have been sponsored by ACS, but a volunteer student committee assisted the non-profit group. Chris Dahmen, the president of the OU chapter of Colleges Against Cancer, worked with Dhyse this year to make the event a success.

A volunteer committee of students organized the various organizations.

“The most difficult part is getting more students involved,” said Dahmen.

Donations to the ACS can still be made by at www.RelayForLife.org/oaklandumi