By Elizabeth hamilton

Who the Heck would be crazy enough to stay up until 6 a.m. on a Friday night?!” Though staying up to see the dawn is a great reason, it’s not why I will still be awake at 6 a.m. on March 23. I will be staying up until dawn because Henry Heitman will never see one again. Henry’s last dawn was on Sept. 11, 2008 when he passed away of throat cancer. Mr. Heitman left behind a wife and two kids, and, while they are on the road to recovery, their family will never be the same. The Heitmans are why I Relay. When my sister first told me about Relay For Life I didn’t understand it at all. I have come to understand that Relay For Life is one night for everyone whose mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, Grandma, Grandpa or friend has had to put his or her life on hold to fight the toughest fight they will ever face. Relay For Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, an organization that is helping save 350 more people a day through cancer research grants, helping provide invaluable information to families who are wondering at 3 o-clock in the morning if their loved one can handle eating a banana for breakfast. They are helping women who have lost all of their hair to feel beautiful again. They are helping educate people so they will help fight back against cancer. They are helping pass smoke free laws in states across the nation. Most importantly, they are providing hope. If you wish to help fight this disease with me and the other members of Colleges Against Cancer, please come to our kickoff event on the upper level of the Campus Center on December 1 from 8 to 11 p.m. and register a team for Macalester’s 2012 Relay for Life, fundraise, and celebrate. We will be providing cookies, coffee, t-shirts, games and an inspiration wall on which you can write messages of hope for all those who are fighting or have fought cancer. Help us fight back against this force that has affected us all. If you are unable to make it to kickoff you can register your team at www.macalester.edu/relay. Early registration will be only $5 instead of $10 from now until December 9th. This school year’s relay is March 23rd. Come and fundraise so that one day no wife has to look her husband in the eye, as Ms. Heitman did, and say, “I don’t want you to go.”