Colleges Against Cancer is hosting its main event, Relay For Life, on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. to Nov. 14 at 8 a.m.

The philanthropic campus organization holds the event for 12 hours to raise money for cancer research.

“It represents that cancer never sleeps, so we are going to stay up for 12 hours and not sleep as well,” Mia Giano, Relay For Life tri-chair, said.

According the to the Relay For Life website, “Teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track,” to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

“It’s our largest fundraiser, it’s pretty much one of the largest fundraisers for the American Cancer Society and it’s the top grossing worldwide fundraiser,” Jayna Clemens, the organization’s president, said.

Clemens said they have spent this year transitioning their format to ensure more involvement in the community.

“This was a huge transition year for us,” Clemens said. “In the past, we’ve always had great intentions of Colleges Against Cancer being more than just Relay For Life at BGSU.”

During the past two years, the organization has been trying to brand itself as Colleges Against Cancer, rather than “just the organization that does Relay For Life.”

“We want people to realize there is an organization behind the event,” Clemens said. “We want events that continue into the spring to support the BGSU community in a larger capacity than just Relay For Life.”

Last year, the organization realized that the previous leadership structure, which focused primarily on the relay event, did not lend itself to planning other events throughout the year.

The previous leadership structure of the organization was three event chairs, one president and two co-vice presidents.

“When relay was over, we had a difficult time organizing anything else because we spent so much time on relay and no one was focused on the organization and planning any other events,” Clemens said.

Clemens said the old leadership and herself decided to have the vice president disconnect from relay to focus on everything Colleges Against Cancer other than relay.

The leadership team currently consists of the president, the vice president and the tri-chairs.

Some events the organization has planned for the spring include an outdoor obstacle course and a food truck festival.

Giano said she would eventually like to collaborate with Dance Marathon.

“We actually do really want to start collaborating with them on a lot more things because they are way bigger than we are, so we want to eventually become as big as they are,” Giano said.

Giano said she was in charge of “painting the campus purple,” the luminaria ceremony, making decorations and finding entertainment for the event.

Giano said the event will feature The Voices at BG, the High Flyers, Ten40, AcousChicks, a Zumba instructor, a juggler and more.

Clemens said the organization is always looking to support University staff, faculty and students.

“We are always willing and excited to collaborate with other organizations and groups on campus in whatever capacity they need,” Clemens said. “Whether that’s planning an event, providing educational cancer materials or fundraising for the American Cancer Society.”

She encourages anyone interested in Colleges Against Cancer to email them at [email protected]

Pre-register online at relayforlife.org/bgsu for $10 and at the door for $15. Visitors pay $5 for up to 4 hours.

Registration starts at 7:30 p.m. and the event begins at 8 p.m. in the Turf Room of the Perry Field House.