Auburn University is teaming up with the American Cancer Society for the 2012 Relay for Life.
"The American Cancer Society is the largest nonprofit health organization in the world, and the many Relay for Life events held nationwide have helped ACS fund over $4 billion in cancer research," said Luis Rodriguez, junior in political science and event chair for Relay for Life.
Students are preparing for the relay with Paint the Campus Purple, a booth set up throughout this week on the Concourse by the University's Relay for Life committee.
Students are encouraged to participate in fun activities and receive informative handouts throughout the week.
"It's a fun, exciting way to learn more about the American Cancer Society as well as meet other students that have been affected by the disease in some way," said Emily Atchison, senior in industrial and systems engineering.
Paint the Campus Purple kicked off Monday with "Relay like it's 1985," the year of the first Relay for Life.
"Tata Tuesday" was the theme Tuesday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Wednesday's theme, "A World Without Cancer," was one of the more serious events of the week, according to Atchison.
"We are out on the Concourse this day to show how cancer affects people in a global perspective," Atchison said.
Thursday's theme is "Making More Birthdays," which is a slogan of ACS.
It consists of a party on the Concourse to celebrate the many birthdays made possible through advancements in cancer care, research and medicine.
Paint The Campus Purple will come to an end with "Fight Back Friday" to honor those battling cancer now and in the future.
The weeklong promotion is intended to encourage students to sign up for Auburn's Relay for Life, to be held March 30 from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day at the Hutsell-Rosen track.
"The event is composed of numerous teams--between eight and 15 people--that raise money individually," Rodriguez said. "We are always looking for cancer survivors to attend the event, so we encourage anyone who has beaten the disease to participate."
Anyone is welcome to sign up for the event.
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