Meet Exec!

Meet the 2017-2018 Relay Exec Chairs!

Relay Chairs:

Caroline Biondo 

Year: Third

Major: Foreign Affairs

Why I Relay: My reasons to Relay (unfortunately) continue to grow. I Relay for Kathy Kleaka, Coach Deb Brown and Sally Kuisel. I want to live in a world where no one has to hear the words, "You have cancer."

Fun Fact: I have 2 fake teeth!

Maggie Low

Year: Fourth

Major: Public Policy and Leadership

Why I Relay: I relay for my Dad, who passed away from colon cancer. I also relay to celebrate, remember, and FIGHT BACK!

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Entertainment Chairs:

Rebecca Richardson

Year: Fourth

Major: Politics

Why I Relay: I Relay so that the words "you have cancer" don't have to be heard ever again. I Relay in honor of Sam Cox and in memory of Brennon Picarella and B.B. Lind.

Fun Fact: I'm allergic to every animal with fur!!!!!

Derek Wu 

Year: Fourth

Major: Chemical Engineer

Why I Relay: I Relay for my father. When he was battling cancer, I saw the toll that battling cancer takes and I Relay so that others can see the hope and support that we provide.

Fun Fact: I have hit a hole in one in real golf!

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First Year Recruitment Chairs:

Bailey Sanders

Year:
Major:
Why I Relay: 
Fun Fact:

Tamir Abbasi

Year:
Major:
Why I Relay:
Fun Fact:

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Fundraising Chairs:

Anna Cooper

Year: Fourth

Major: Marketing and Management

Why I Relay: For Aunt Caroline, my friends & their families, and for Kendall.

Fun Fact: I've been cage diving with great whites!

Logan Buckstaff

Year: Third
Major: Comm

Why I Relay: For my grandpa, my uncle, and for millions of others who have lost loved ones to cancer
Fun Fact: I lived in London before LA

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Finance and Logistics Chairs:

Laura Duke

Year: Fourth

Major: Math and Econ

Why I Relay:  I Relay to fight with and give strength to cancer patients, family members, friends, and caretakers, to honor those who lost their battle, and to support the survivors.
Fun Fact: My twin sister is the Entertainment Chair for Relay for Life at Syracuse!

Jeewoo Kim

Year:

Major:

Why I Relay:

Fun Fact:

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Food Chairs:

Taylor Hogge

Year: Fourth

Major: Kinesiology

Why I Relay: I relay for the loved ones I've lost, all of those that have been affected by cancer, and for a cure!

Fun Fact: My closet is organized by color

Chelsea Umberger

Year: Fourth

Major: Kinesiology

Why I Relay: In honor of my Grandfather

Fun Fact: I have a freckle in my eye

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Greek Recruitment Chairs:

Sam Brinkley

Year: Third

Major: Commerce

Why I Relay: My brother Hughes

Fun Fact: I enjoy fly fishing and hiking

Noah Kiernan

Year:

Major:

Why I Relay:

Fun Fact:

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Mission and Outreach Chairs:

Katie Carr

Year: Fourth

Major: Global Public Health

Why I Relay: I relay in memory of my mom and so that soon cancer will be a thing of the past!

Fun fact: I love corndogs more than the any person should.

Savannah Draper

Year:

Major:

Why I Relay:

Fun Fact:

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Publicity and Social Media Chairs:

Hannah Hecht

Year: Fourth

Major: Media Studies major & Art History minor

Why I Relay: I relay for my grandma, aunt, and grandfather who have all beaten cancer due to the progress that organizations like the American Cancer Society have made. I want to honor their strength and hope that we can find a cure to have more stories of people who have won the fight to this disease.

Fun fact: When I was in Africa we got charged by a bull elephant and we had to hop in our truck and run for our lives. They are still my favorite animal though and I have upwards of thirty stuffed animal elephants that I don't plan on getting rid of anytime soon.

Rita Cliffton

Year: Fourth

Major: Global Studies and Public Policy

Why I Relay: In memory of my Gammy Joan and in honor of my Dad winning the fight.

Fun Fact: I'm on the Ski Team at UVA and race competitively

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Sponsorship Chairs:

Emily Smith

Year: Fourth

Major: Commerce

Why I Relay: I relay for my grandfather and for more birthdays!

Fun Fact: I've hiked the grand canyon!

Marisa Lombardi

Year: Third

Major: Commerce

Why I Relay: I relay for my cross country coach Mr. Hornish.

Fun Fact: I was born on New Years Eve.

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Team Recruitment Chairs:

Ciana Deveau

Year: Fourth

Major: Biology and French

Why I Relay: I relay in memory of my dad!

Fun Fact: I've been to 49 states! (Just missing North Dakota)

Casey Baker

Year: Fourth

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Why I Relay: Friends, neighbors, teachers

Sunday Shoutout: Miller & Minh

Hey Relay-ers! I am honored to announce that this week's shoutout goes to the new Relay For Life Co-Chairs for the 2016-2017 school year: Miller Sisson and Minh Bui! Biggest congrats to these two wonderful people & be sure to say hello if you see them!

Name: Miller Sisson

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Year/Major: 3rd year, Human Biology

Position on Relay: Greek Recruitment Chair

Why I Relay: I Relay to fight back against cancer. I have had two grandparents with cancer, and so I Relay to both honor them and to hopefully prevent others from going through what they did. I also Relay for my future career. I want to be an oncologist, and my dream is to be able to say to folks: "You have cancer, but we can do something about this. We can cure your disease." I believe the work that Relay and the ACS are doing now makes this dream closer and closer to becoming a reality.

Why I’m Excited For Relay: I go to bed really early most days, but I can't think of a more exciting reason to pull an all-nighter. Seeing so many folks at UVA come together to fight for the same goal is really powerful. And the free food. 

Did you know… That I have a twin sister? She's a student at Furman University in South Carolina. She's a lot cooler than I am, but I'm one minute older so it all evens out, right? I have two younger brothers too, and they are pretty cool in their own right. 

Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream: Chocolate. It's not even close.

Name: Minh Bui

Hometown: Chantilly, VA

Year/Major: 3rd Year, Sociology

Position on Relay: Entertainment Chair

Why I Relay: For my Aunt

Why I'm Excited for Relay: Because Luminaria is one of the best hours of my year, and that we'll be playing Hunger Hungry Hippos - Human Edition

Did you know: I turned my parents into cake ball creating sweatshop workers in high school and made them help me make 1,400 cake balls to sell for Relay. No shame.

Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream: Anything with salted caramel!

#FinishtheFight

Cancer is not casual. Ask any one of your friends and the overwhelming majority of them can name someone they know whom this monster of a disease has affected. When I arrived at the University of Virginia I was very *extremely* eager to get involved and Relay For Life seemed like an obvious choice. Their mission to celebrate survivors, to remember those we have lost, and to fight back through our fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society spoke to me.

Young, eager Allison at her first Relay For Life Event

At that point I could name one family member that had been affected by breast cancer, my great-aunt Nena. I still remember bursting into tears at a second grade assembly while our headmistress addressed us. That was the first time I had to feel the heartache of losing someone I loved because of a disease that seemed so out of my control or anyone’s for that matter. That experience was impetus enough for me to join this organization. Over the next couple of years I heard countless stories of why people relay. Tearfully, I listened as friends share their stories of acting as a caregiver to their mother, saying good-bye to their sister, fighting alongside their beloved coach, and so many more. These were such powerful stories and I thought that my one story was not enough. I loved my great aunt, but my memories with her were so few as I was so young. I am blessed to say that my family members are alive and well. However several weeks ago I was talking with a friend over drinks and he shared with me that he had had skin cancer. The comment was so nonchalant that it struck me. How had I not known this about one of my best friends? Surprisingly, this was not the first time this type of interaction had happened to me. Another friend of mine had similarly shared her story during happy hour as if it was regular conversation. Moreover this last weekend I was having lunch with my grandparents and my mom told my grandfather that he had to have a growth on his forehead checked out. She then told me that he had had a cancerous cell removed in the past.

Beyond these few stories, there are plenty more that go untold. I realized that I relay for them and that my reason for relaying is worthy. Thanks to the American Cancer Society, life saving research has been made possible so that the people I love most have been able to stay in my life. The American Cancer Society dedicates itself to research, education, advocacy, and service. Every dollar raised is a glimmer of hope that someone can share their story over a beer that they beat cancer, and hopefully one day there will be no stories to tell because we will see a world without cancer. We’ve certainly come along way thanks to the amazing work of researchers, physicians, nurses and all those committed to finishing the fight. Just look at our very own UVA researchers, Dr. Hui Li, PhD and Kate Adelstein, a nurse pursuing her PhD, who will be sharing their efforts at Relay For Life at UVA’s Flash Seminar this Friday.

We all play a role in ensuring a future without cancer. It is a privilege and an honor to have work alongside so many amazing people over the last four years doing my part by fundraising with Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society. No story is unworthy, no donation is too small. Do your part so that we can #FinishtheFight!

RelayLove,

Allison Palacios

 Co-Chair of Greek Recruitment