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Last Sunday, the Quinnipiac community gathered together to celebrate and walk for those who have overcome and those who have lost their battles to cancer.

“Relay for Life is an event, it’s actually the largest peer to peer fundraising event for cancer in the world,” Alexis Maliga, senior manager for community development for the American Cancer Society, said. “It benefits in many ways. It raises awareness for cancer. It raises much needed funds for things like research, in programs and services that the American Cancer Society offers to patients and their families.”

This year’s Relay for Life raised $35,416.76 for the American Cancer Society.

“I think it’s an amazing cause,” sophomore Kate Duffy said. “The unfortunate truth of the matter is that pretty much everyone knows someone who has battled cancer and i think it is something everyone can really relate to.”

The 2019 Relay for Life began on the quad with a remembrance walk for someone very special in the Quinnipiac community.

Leyanda DaSilva was a beloved Chartwells worker to students and in January passed away from stage four breast cancer.

“That was really impactful,” senior Jessie Gagnon said. “I mean she was someone that a lot of us saw every single day in the caf and she was just such a positive person.”

The event concluded with a luminaria lighting ceremony to remember those who have passed and those who still continue to fight their battles with cancer.

“We’re going to fight until we find a cure,” Maliga said. “We’re going to raise the funds needed so that the next generation won’t have to deal with this horrible disease.”

The next Relay for Life at Quinnipiac will take place in the Fall of 2020.