The University of North Georgia (UNG) Relay For Life team is gearing up for its annual fundraiser with the “Comic Run: Heroes Against Cancer” 5K and one-mile fun run.
The event, set for March 22, aims to raise funds for UNG’s participation in the 2025 Relay For Life of Hall County, supporting the American Cancer Society’s mission to fight cancer.
The event kicks off at UNG’s Gainesville Campus, with the one-mile fun run starting at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K race at 8:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to embrace the theme by dressing as their favorite superheroes or characters from books, TV shows, movies, or comic books.
Registration for the race is open online, with fees set at $35 per person for the 5K and $15 for the one-mile fun run.
UNG’s Relay For Life team, led by the university’s Staff Council, has set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for this year’s Relay For Life of Hall County event, scheduled to take place from 6-10 p.m. on April 25 in downtown Flowery Branch, Georgia.
Laura Russell, coordinator for Military-Connected and Adult Learner Programs, serves as the team lead for UNG’s Relay For Life initiative. Having battled cervical cancer at age 21 and experienced the loss of her mother to colon cancer in 2021, Russell is deeply committed to the cause.
“I have participated in Relay For Life events for more than 10 years. I do it because I want to help find a cure. A cure that will save the lives of my family and friends,” Russell said. “I want my children — and their children — to have a fighting chance if they are ever diagnosed with this vicious disease. I want you and your family and friends to have a fighting chance.”
Individuals interested in volunteering for the event can contact Russell at [email protected].
According to the American Cancer Society, “Relay For Life is more than a walk — it’s a chance to come together in your local community to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against every cancer as we come together for every life. Be a part of the global community of passionate supporters working to help end cancer as we know it, for everyone.”
