Creighton’s Relay for Life kicked off Wednesday night with a raffle and presentation for all the team leaders.

Students interested in having a Relay for Life team signed up Thursday and learned some of the symbolism and meaning behind the event. The theme for Creighton’s relay this year is “Making More Birthdays.”

The Creighton University Colleges against Cancer will hold the 2009 Relay for Life overnight from March 26 to March 27. The relay is held overnight to symbolize the path of a cancer patient.

It starts at dusk, symbolizing when the patient first receives the diagnosis, and ends at dawn, when the patient finally pulls through, according to the presentation.

Last year Creighton was first in its division, earning $62,000, according to the Relay for Life executive team.

Teams are required to have a runner or walker on the track for the whole night, working through the tiredness, just like cancer patients.

“I think it’s really interesting how much money the relay has raised,” said Andrew Bakke, Arts & Sciences junior. “The presentation said that the foundation has raised around $3.2 billion. I think it’s great how much money that people on a grassroots level have raised for cancer research.”

This year Creighton’s Relay for Life goals are to be first in the nation, first in its division, have a survivor member on each team and have everyone involved raise at least $1 more than they did last year.

Heidi Holmes, Arts & Sciences junior and member of the Relay for Life executive team, said that many students participate because of personal reasons.

“I relay for my mom. She had cancer when I was little and was really helped by new treatments. Relay for Life really helps support research, and without research she wouldn’t be alive today,” Holmes said.

Bakke said he relays because his best friend’s little brother was diagnosed. “I watched them struggle with it and wanted to help,” he said.

Kyle O’Reilly contributed to this report.