Sophomore Alexa Lowey relays for a cure, change and community. But most importantly to her, she relays for a friend.

In 2007, Lowey’s best friend of six years Esther Earl — who was later the inspiration for John Green’s novel “The Fault in Our Stars” — was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Lowey then became immersed in a life of supporting, caregiving and fighting for her best friend until Earl lost her battle in 2010.

Five years later, Lowey continues to be involved in cancer fundraising and support efforts and serves as treasurer on the executive board for Elon’s Relay for Life chapter. 

“To me, Relay is all about support,” Lowey said. “We all have people, and stories for why we relay, but when we relay as a whole it’s a way to say, ‘Hey, you are not alone in this fight.’”

Lowey will be present Friday, April 24 as Elon’s Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) hosts Relay for Life for the third year in a row.

Laura Castro, Relay for Life 2015 director, said the event will feature new changes in an effort to improve the event.

To make the layout appear more cohesive, Castro said that this year, tents will be set up in the center of the Francis Center fields, instead of on the edge of the track.

“Last year, people who wanted to be in tents and campsites felt excluded from the field,” Castro said. “Hopefully, this year people will feel more involved in all of the activities, whether they are walking or not.”

To save money this year, the organization got permission to allow Relay for Life participants to use the bathrooms in the Francis Center, saving the organization approximately $1,000 to use for expenses other than port-a-potties.

In addition to logistical changes, Castro said this year’s event is taking on the theme “Hope Around the World” and adding new events throughout the 12 hours, like food trucks Friday evening and a breakfast by Elon fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon Saturday morning.

Five food trucks are scheduled to remain until midnight and are each participating in a profit share with Relay for Life, with varied percentages going back to the event.

The event — scheduled to begin 6 p.m. Friday, April 24 — will continue throughout the night and conclude the following morning at 6 a.m. Saturday, April 25.

“Cancer never sleeps, so for the night we’re not going to, either,” Castro said.

This year, in addition to community members and an estimated 800 students, faculty and staff will be participating.

Jaimie Biermann, assistant director of residence life in Danieley Center, created ‘Fac and Staff Bridging the Gap,’ a group of seven faculty and staff members who are scheduled to participate in the event alongside Elon students.

No matter the age of participants or their relation to Elon, Castro said the goal of Relay for Life is to raise money and awareness for cancer research and advances in conjunction with the American Cancer Society.

Relay for Life is a national event that started in 1985 when Dr. Gordon Klatt spent 24 hours walking the University of Puget Sound’s track to raise awareness and money. Klatt walked more than 83 miles and raised $27,000.

A year later, the first Relay for Life was hosted and 19 teams participated and raised $33,000.

In the past two decades Relay for Life has raised almost $5 billion in events hosted across the country.

This is the third year Elon has hosted a Relay for Life event. At the first Relay in April 26, 2013 about 400 people participated and beat the event’s goal of $10,000 with a final total of $30,420.

Last year, more than 800 students participated, raising a total of $50,073.28.

As of publication, 755 participants in 45 different teams have registered and raised a total of $45,809.35, which moves the organization closer to its 2015 goal of raising $75,000.

Castro said registration does not close, though, and people can register at the event.

“We just want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate,” Castro said. “This event is able to bring students together from across campus for one common goal: raising money to fight cancer.”

Castro said people can register with a team of as few as six people.

“People can register with friends or an organization leading up to the event or at the event,” she said. “We have a good variety of fraternities, sororities, clubs and halls registered.”

Klatt’s mission has inspired people around the country, including Elon students who participate in Relay because they understand the great amount of people who are touched by cancer.

“Being ivolved with CAC has made me realize how many people on this campus have been affected by cancer in some way,” said Rebecca Venetianer, director of marketing. “And I think it is important for everyone to realize that as well.”