Presentation Projects (Spring Expo)

Relay For Life has inspired me as I participated in this international movement for a cancer cure. I shot and created a photo story to capture the activities and positivity of such an amazing and beneficial event.

Relay For Life is an overnight 24-hour event to raise money for cancer research. Cancer is something that makes many feel helpless, especially young students. Many believe they lack the ability to make a difference. My pictures aim to show what goes on at these events and how young students such as those at Mission really contribute to impact millions of lives by raising tens of thousands of dollars to support American Cancer Society. I show a first-hand primary account of what goes on at these events.
 www.relayforlife.org

http://jluophotography.weebly.com/blog/presentation-projects-spring-expo

Students arrive early in the morning to begin registering for the event and setting up campsites and booths. Throughout the day, camps and their booths will be selling items and running activities to raise funds for American Cancer Society. These funds are only a portion of the months of preparation and fundraising that went into supporting this program.

Two students are discussing and honing their MC skills in preparation for a rap battle later in the night against a formidable and skillful opponent. These musical and lyrical competitions are just one of the many activities that students engage in throughout the 24 hours of the event to pass the time and enjoy each others' friendship and company.

While many are here to enjoy a community-wide event of fun and games, they do not forget why they are committed to such an event: to support cancer research and those affected by cancer, directly or indirectly. The theme of the event is like many others, Walk for a Cure. Students take shifts to support the true meaning of the event by walking laps around the MSJ track. Through thick and thin, warm or blistering cold, students walked. In fact, in the 24-hour span of the event, an abundance of walkers was a constant presence on the track.

When the shift is over, students return to a field full of various activities and endless fun. From sports to board games and from homework to catching up on sleep, there was more than enough to do when participants were not walking. Here, students line up in an organized fashion to play catch with a football. Students have the opportunity to spend time with friends and make new ones.

By the following morning, with less than 2 hours left on the clock, students began packing up and preparing for the closing ceremony. Some students are still walking, others are throwing frisbees and footballs, and still many others, such as this student, are packing up their tents, tables, and canopies.There is a strong feeling of accomplishment within many of the relayers, and they will seek to strive for even higher goals next year.