On October 15, Auburn University’s Relay for Life held a dodgeball tournament at Parkway Baptist Church to raise money for The American Cancer Society. The tournament is the first of several fundraising events that will lead up to the kickoff of Relay for Life on November 12.

Relay for Life’s planning committee has been studying the fundraising event at other universities, such as Virginia Tech, to get ideas for ways to raise money. Virginia Tech raised over $500,000 last year, and the dodgeball tournament that they have is very popular, so the Auburn committee decided to try it out here as well.

The tournament was advertised on Auburn’s campus, and students could sign up in teams on the concourse by the university’s Haley Center. There were six to ten people on a team at $5 a person. There were 15 teams that participated, and the tournament was based on a double elimination round.

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In addition to the money raised through students signing up for teams, the committee also sold t-shirts for $10. All proceeds went to the American Cancer Society.

The main purpose of the tournament was to get Relay for Life noticed early in the year. The kickoff of the event is on November 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Student Center. Students will be able to sign up for a team and get information about Relay for Life.

The teams will fundraise until April 16, which is the day of the actual Relay. This event will last from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. at one of Auburn’s outside tracks, although the specific one has not been determined yet.

Participants will be able to enjoy the festivities of the event, while at the same time remembering those who have lost their battle to cancer. The night is usually spent eating, playing games and walking the track.

“Relay for Life is as much an awareness raiser about the progress against cancer as it is a fundraiser,” said Brittany Freeman, Relay for Life event chair. “Many of the participants will be people who have been dealt with cancer themselves. Their involvement is proof of the progress that has been made in reducing cancer death rates and in the quality of life following cancer treatment.”