NYU students love a good cause. Whether it be homophobic fried chicken or the NYPD surveillance of Muslim students, the Violets fight evil like there’ll be free tuition when the world’s a perfect place. As such, the powerhouse fundraising abilities of NYU’s Relay for Life, the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, are no exception.

Now in its 10th year, NYU’s Relay for Life is one of the top twenty-five in the entire nation, and only second in the entire Eastern division. Because of this prestigious standing in the cancer-fighting community, we have been invited to participate in the Number1Relay Challenge, a 72-hour national fundraising trial to determine the best Relay for Life in the collegiate land. 

Last year’s Relay Challenge involved only the Top 10 schools. In 72 hours they raised $78,000. This challenge is just 72 hours, and only online credit card donations count. The start time was Monday, March 26, 12:01am EST, and will run until Thursday morning at 12am. American Cancer Society’s goal is to raise $212,000 this year, in honor of the year 2012.

Of course, there is no point to have a competition without some fancy touch-screen prizes. The top overall individual fundraiser will win a new iPad 3, and the campus that raises the most money will win a new iPad 3 for their top fundraiser. In addition to the iPads, the top fundraisers will receive a personalized congratulations video from the National VP of Relay for Life, as well as distinction on the National Relay website. The winner will be announced 12:30am on Thursday with much celebration and fanfare.

Here’s what you can do to help NYU’s Relay:

1. Make a donation – every penny counts. If your grandma only owns an antiquated e-mail machine that she bought from Circuit City for 20 dollars and doesn’t have e-mail, be good grandson and do it over the phone for her. She’ll be happy you called and you did a good thing.
2. Use what Zuckerberg gave ya and like/share Relay4LifeNYU’s Facebook page.
3. Tweet the link with the hashtag #1Relay and tweet @Relay4LifeNYU.

Relay For Life is an event held by thousands of school, and communities around the country. As Relay for Life front page states, “Relay For Life is a life-changing event that helps communities across the globe celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.” For 24 hours, participants camp out overnight and take turns walking around a track, symbolic of the fact that “cancer never sleeps.” There’s also food, games, and entertainment throughout the night. Basically, it’s one giant party to fight a terrible disease.

Hosted by our university’s chapter of Colleges Against Cancer, NYU’s Relay For Life will take place on Saturday, April 28 starting at 5pm to Sunday, April 29 at 5am in the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center. As of now, there are 698 participants forming 63 teams, raising $58,584 online. Their goal is to raise $200,000 this year, all which goes directly to the American Cancer Society. For more information, visit Relay4LifeNYU’s Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr, or e-mail them at colleges.against.cancer.club@nyu.edu.