Relay For Life is set to return April 12, and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon will participate in the cancer research fundraiser as a survivor himself.
Kent State Fraternity and Sorority Life leads the event, a 24-hour walk-a-thon supporting the American Cancer Society. The FSL community holds philanthropy near to its heart, even more so when there’s a connection to the community.
Max Moriarty, a junior recreation and park management major, was diagnosed with a desmoplastic round cell tumor in October 2024. As a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and a past member of the Inter-Fraternity Council, Relay means a lot to him.
“It meant a lot even last year before all of my stuff came to fruition because my mom is actually a two-time leukemia survivor when she was a kid,” Moriarty said.
As a member of IFC, he helped plan last year’s Relay for Life. He knows that the FSL community is active in supporting philanthropic causes like his and the ACS.
“Kent State Fraternity and Sorority Life focuses on philanthropy and service, and philanthropy is one of our values,” said Kyra Mymo, graduate assistant of Kent State Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Moriarty was amazed not only by the amount of support from his brothers but from the whole FSL community.
“I told them what happened, and within 24 hours they started a GoFundMe that had already raised like $22,000 for me in that short amount of time,” he said. “So many of those donations came from people in the Kent State FSL community.”
Relay means even more to him now because of his diagnosis.
“I’m excited to continue on in my life being able to go and partake as a survivor,” Moriarty said.
Relay For Life will start with the opening ceremony welcoming survivors to share their stories and take the first lap around the track.
The goal is to raise $20,000, so far there’s just under $2500 for this year’s relay. Last year’s Relay raised just over $10,000.
With all of the events taking place over 24 hours, Relay’s goal is also to engage participants.
“My specific goal is that everyone who comes has fun,” Mymo said. “Relay is a wonderful way to help build a community of people who want to help fight cancer and help raise money for cancer research.”
This year’s Relay will be April 12 at the Kent State Field House. Those interested can form a team by registering on the Kent State Relay’s website. Team members can walk in shifts of one hour, some may choose to run while others walk.
“It means so much to us that the survivors that go there see all the people that want to show their support for us,” Moriarty said. “That’s what made it so easy for me knowing I have so many people behind me and willing to help out.”
Caitlyn Soya is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].