Ways to Get Involved

Planning Committee

It takes a lot of work beforehand and behind the scenes to make Relay run smoothly, and this responsibility falls to the dedicated members of the planning committee. The committee is broken into 15 subcommittees, each focused on a specific aspect of Relay. There are still a few open committee chair positions. Planning committee is a pretty big commitment, but it's worth the time and energy. You'll get to meet with fun, dedicated people from all five colleges, experience the thrill of knowing you're making something big and successful happen and the sense of accomplishment that follows, and you get to wear a brightly color shirt at the Relay! Training will be provided by the American Cancer Society, so don't worry if you don't have prior experience as long as you have enthusiasm.

The responsibilities of each subcommitte chair can be found below. Although some positions are filled, we are always looking for additional co-chairs and committee members. The more the merrier! Interested or want to know more? Email relayforlife@amherst.edu.


Advocacy chair Cancer Education chair Ceremonies & Luminaria Chair Entertainment & Activities co-chair Publicity chair Relay Online chair Sponsorship chair Survivorship chair Amherst Team Recruitment Chair Volunteer Recruitment chair:

Subcommittee Members

Each committee relies on committed volunteers to help the committee chair accomplish his or her assigned tasks. Subcommittee members meet with only the specific committee and are assigned specific tasks to accomplish. This is a great way to get involved if you don't have the time to be a committee chair but would still like to help out. Our planning committee consists of the following subcommittees: If you are interested in being involved with any of these committees, email relayforlife@amherst.edu and you will be put in contact with the committee chair.

Team Captains

Last year we had 19 teams from Amherst College, and we'd love to see more this year! Team captains are responsible for recruiting at least 8 people (15 is optimal, but more is great too) to be on their team. Teams can be formed from sports teams, dorms, clubs, or just groups of friends. Team Captains are responsible for attending the occasional team captain meetings and passing on the information they learn to their teammates. They must collect a registration form and fee from each team member and turn it in to the Team Recruitment Chairs by the deadline. A good Team Captain should devise a walking schedule for their team and encourage their teammates to fundraise. They should register their team online and create a team page from which team members can collect donations. You may also wish to arrange team fundraisers or come up with a fun team theme.

Details of team registration can be found here.

If you are interested in starting a team, please email Nancy Song, our Team Recruitment Chair.

Participants

Relay would be nothing without participants to raise funds and come to the event itself. It doesn't take much to join a team, but you'll be making a difference and having a great time. The registration form is simple and your $10 registration fee will go towards Relay expenses and get you a nifty t-shirt. Once you are registered you can start raising funds for the American Cancer Society. You can set up a page on the website to collect online donations and email friends and family asking for monetary support. Show up on the day of the Relay to walk your shifts and experience the fun and camaraderie. A schedule of events will be posted prior to the Relay listing all the entertainment, games and ceremonies, but you're welcome (and encouraged!) to stay the entire time.

If you'd like to participate but don't have a team to join or the time to start your own, check back at this site closer to Relay to find a list of existing teams you can join.

Volunteer at the Event

If you don't want to fundraise or join a team but would still like to help out at the event, volunteers are needed for setup, cleanup, and various tasks during the Relay itself. Contact Priscilla Wong, our Volunteer Recruitment Chair, with your available times and areas of interest and she can give you more details.

Make a Donation

If you can't attend the Relay but would like to help the cause we gladly accept monetary donations. Online credit card donations can be made at the official Five College Relay website. If you would prefer to make a cash or check donation, contact anyone you know who is participating in Relay or email relayforlife@amherst.edu for details on how to do so.

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