Relay for Life is an event that not only brings communities together to raise awareness about funds for cancer research, but gives survivors and their families an opportunity to celebrate victories in the battle against cancer.
People are encouraged to participate by donating money or by running an overnight relay as a team to show their support.
The Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU) decided to get involved by organizing a talent show for the students of UCCS.
The show, held April 5, helped to raise funds for the Relay for Life by offering live bands, singers and an auction.
The APISU, a club that has been growing rapidly since 2007, has roughly 80 members who work toward the club’s mission statement of helping the student body and staff to be more aware of the different cultures from Asia.
Even before this show was done, some APISU leadership was already hard at work planning a second talent show.
So if you missed the talent show on April 5, you will have another chance to join APISU festivities in the coming months.
The second talent show, set for May 4, will focus more heavily on Asian Pacific-specific themes in recognition of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, normally celebrated the first week of May.
“We want to celebrate the heritage month and show what makes the Asian community stand out,” APISU President Bryan Pattirane explained.
“It’s going to be not just traditional, but more contemporary. It’s for anyone, a family event basically.”
Because the talent show will run close to finals week, Pattirane hopes that students will take the opportunity to do something fun and help them relax.
Pattirane did mention that the APISU is trying to get people of Asian descent to perform, but the acts will not be limited the Asian Pacific theme or to club member performances.
The break dance group HYPE 303 from Denver is working the talent show into its schedule, and any student who would like to suggest an outside actor who would enjoy volunteering are encouraged to contact the APISU leadership.
Though participation in the talent show doesn’t require you be a member, the APISU is actively recruiting and students of all types are encouraged to join.
“Shoot me an email and find out where we are meeting,” Pattirane said. Joining is as easy as walking in for the meeting and writing down your name. Students looking to sign up can get meeting information by emailing apisu@uccs.edu.
Students who want to participate in the Relay for Life can do so as an individual or by registering their own team at the Relay for Life website (relayforlife.org).
The UCCS-sponsored Relay for Life is to be held on April 14 and already has over 150 participants across more than 20 teams. Including the APISU’s own donations, more than $10,000 has been raised so far.
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