As students shuffled through the halls on a gloomy Monday morning, their faces began to light up as they saw purple decorations welcoming a widely missed Homestead event: Relay for Life.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 8 from noon to 9 p.m. on the football field and track. To gain admission to the event, students will pay a $15 registration fee, then raise $50 to benefit cancer research across the United States.

This year’s event will look a little different than last year’s: instead of the activities occurring through the night hours, they will end as the night begins.

Additionally, advisors noted that their number one priority is keeping the speakers and students safe, and for that reason, cancer survivors will be sending their speech in digitally to remain socially distant from attendees.

Isabella Magee, junior and first-year member of the Relay for Life committee, understood that being a part of this event meant putting in the work to make it happen safely.

“The planning process was long and hard to work through. We first needed approval from Mr. Ebert to even have an event this year, then we need to move the event outside, and then we need to fill out about six pages of questions to get approval from the American Cancer Society,” Magee said.

It was all worth it, though, as she can not wait for a Relay like no other. Magee continued, “This year, we get the soccer, softball and football fields. Also our traditional end to Relay is the Luminara, and this year that will take place at sunset which should be pretty.”

The Luminaria honors loved ones whose lives have been affected by cancer. Participants in the ceremony light lanterns and join together in a moment of silence to recognize the loved ones they are dedicated to, and cancer survivors share their stories with the group.

Although almost everything else about the event will change, the Luminaria ceremony will stay the same.

Joe Ciurlik, Relay for Life advisor, looks forward to participating in the ceremony this year. “[It] will continue to be a moving and powerful event where survivors share how cancer changed their lives. It is an emotional, yet meaningful experience to all who have participated,” he said.

Homestead’s journey with Relay for Life began when a student lost his mother to cancer and students “wanted to honor her and raise money for the battle,” Ciurlik said.

From there, he saw the event gain momentum.

Ciurlik speculated that its popularity has grown because “it is a fun event with a lot of activities, but more importantly students are committed to raise money to find a cure.”

With activities ranging from musical chairs to a hypnotist, students can’t help but look forward to relay. However, Magee struggled with the recruitment aspect of Relay. The solution: “it’s all about making [students] feel comfortable and encouraging them to go with a group,” she said.

Magee and Ciurlik, along with Caroline Weir, senior and board member of the Relay for Life committee, are all excited to welcome students back for this special afternoon. “We play tons of fun games but in the end we are making an impact on someone’s life, which means a lot,” Weir said.