FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona women's swimming and diving team will participate in “Relay For Life of NAU” this Friday, April 9 in the Walkup Skydome.  The event is an initiative by the American Cancer Society to aid in cancer research, education, advocacy, and service.  Swimming and diving is one of 75 teams that will stay overnight in the Skydome in an effort to contribute to the cause.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is an event that gives community members across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.

At Relay For Life, teams will “camp out” at the Skydome and take turns walking or running around the track with each team asked to have a representative on the track at all times.  Relay For Life is a 12-hour event that aids in the fight against cancer.  It shows a continued commitment to battling the disease “because cancer never sleeps” and neither will Relay For Life participants.

“Relay for Life is a good opportunity to give back because many of our lives in some way have been touched by cancer,” said junior swimmer Meredith Egloria.  “Everyone walks for their own purpose.  It is a time to reflect and be grateful for the life and opportunities we have here at Northern Arizona University as student-athletes.”

Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part in this global phenomenon and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.

“We continue to do this because cancer is universal, it touches our lives and is a good cause,” said Egloria, who along with many other members of the swimming and diving team, is participating in Relay For Life for the fourth consecutive year.  “The environment and closeness allows us to talk and cope with the fears and struggles of having cancer, caring for someone with cancer, or the loss of someone with cancer.”

Anyone can participate in Relay For Life. Friends, families, neighbors, classmates, sports teams, etc., can form their own teams.  Relay For Life of NAU will have 878 individuals taking part in the event which starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 9 and ends at 7 a.m. on Saturday, April 10.

If you want to be part of Relay, you can start a team or join an existing team online. You can also make an online donation at www.relayforlife.org.

As of April 9, Relay For Life of NAU has raised $41,192.17.

DID YOU KNOW…The Northern Arizona University athletics department recorded its highest cumulative grade point average since 1997, recording a 3.16 GPA among its more than 300 student-athletes at the completion of the fall of 2009 semester.