Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Ask here.
Who can participate in Relay?
Anyone can participate in Relay For Life. Teams of people from all walks of life have fun while raising much-needed funds and awareness to help the American Cancer Society save lives. No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at Relay.
Is there a registration fee?
The only requirement to participate in Relay For Life is the $10 commitment fee (a donation per person) that is due upon registration. This is a donation to your personal fundraising efforts and you will be able to decorate a luminaria bag in honor or memory of someone you know who is fighting cancer. After that, anything you can raise through individual, team, or online fundraising is graciously accepted.
Is there a required minimum amount to raise?
There is not a required amount of money to raise in order to participate in Relay For Life. The American Cancer Society's recommendation is for each participant to set a personal goal to raise $100 to receive an event t-shirt. If you raise more, that's even better. If you do not raise $100, you are still welcome to participate. We're glad to have you.
Where does the money go?
We are so glad you asked! Please visit our Your Dollars at Work page!
When and where is Relay For Life this year?
Relay For Life of MSU will be held Friday, April 16th at 5pm until Saturday, April 17th at 7am at the Ralph Young Track Complex. We hope to see you there!
Why should I sign up now if the event is not until April?
You should sign up NOW because:
-We’re the defending college Relay in the BIG TEN and were 3rd place nationwide last year!
-It gives you more time to fundraise. As we college students know, people procrastinate, so give your potential donors a chance to get your emails.
-It makes you a part of the largest movement on campus to end cancer! You will be kept informed of the latest Relay news, events, fundraisers, and other special campus information – but only if you are registered!
What is a Team Captain or Team Members?
Team Captains and Team Memberss are the "foot-soldiers" in the fight against cancer. Teams are made up of 8-15 people who share a passion and commitment to raise money throughout the year. Fundraising efforts are culminated and celebrated at community Relay For Life events.
Team Captains lead their team by attending monthly update meetings on campus. Team Captains are the liaisons between the event committee and their team. Team Captains organize and delegate needs for the team's fundraising events throughout the year as well as for the team's participation in activities throughout the night of the event.
Relay For Life events typically last 12-24 hours. In order to make sure that each team is represented on the track at all times, you're going to need Team Memberss. Some will walk in the afternoon. Some will walk in the evening. And yes, some will even walk the "zombie" shift (the wee hours of the morning). Team Memberss also help support Relay by participating in team and individual fundraisers throughout the year.
How many people can be on one team?
We recommend that each team have between 12-15 people. After that, we encourage you to break your team into two teams so that it is easier to manage. Clearly, the more the merrier!
May my team have more than one Team Captain?
Absolutely! We encourage each Team Captain to recruit a Co-Captain to share the excitement with the rest of your team.
How do I add another Team Captain online?
In order to add another Team Captain online, the original Team Captain must log-in and go to their participant center. From there, choose the “Team Progress” page and select “promote” next to the name of the person you would like to be your Co-Captain.
May I be a Team Captain for more than one team?
Yes, you may be a Team Captain for more than one team. However, we encourage you to recruit one of your peers to act as the Team Captain for any additional teams to get more people involved in Relay!
How much do I have to raise to get a t-shirt at the event?
To take part in our $100 Fundraising Challenge to receive an event t-shirt, you must raise a minimum of $100 by Thursday, April 1st at Noon.
I turned in checks and cash to my Team Captain, but the donations aren’t showing up on my personal page?
In order for check and/or cash donations to show up on your personal page, you must enter them as “Offline Donations” through your participant center. Simply log in and select the “my progress” icon. In the upper left-hand corner of the page, you will see “Enter Donations Received Offline”. Choose this link and enter the appropriate information. An ACS Rep will confirm the receipt of the donations and the information will show up on your page.
What do I do if I know of a business who would like to be a sponsor?
Please contact Sponsorship Chairperson, Greg Dowdy at SpartanRelay@gmail.com. In order for Sponsors to be on the event t-shirt, commitment forms must be received by March 26th, 2010 at 5pm.
When and where are the Team Captain Meetings?
Team Captain Meetings are TBD. Please stay tuned for more information.
I’m a Survivor, how do I get involved?
On Friday night, we have a special Survivor Victory Lap in which we would like to honor you and your cancer journey. Otherwise, we encourage you and your family or friends to get involved like everyone else does. Join a team, start a team, come and walk, or encourage fellow Survivors to attend the festivities. We Relay for you!
I still have questions and would like more help. What should I do?
We are excited to answer any additional questions you may have. Every Tuesday we have OPEN OFFICE HOURS in the International Center lobby (outside room 115) from 11am to 1pm. In the Spring semester, the hours will be longer. Otherwise, please email SpartanRelay@gmail.com for more information.
Thank you!
