A cancer survivor attending the University of Windsor is paying it forward at this year's Relay for Life, raising $49,000.
Relay for Life is a global movement to end cancer through research and support, something Event Chair Sarah Columbus has seen firsthand.
The third year Concurrent Education student was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was just five years old, after more than two-years of treatment that saw her lose her hair, among other side effects of chemotherapy, she was declared cancer free.
"When it happens, everything hits you so hard. Being able to come together to raise this amount of money for an organization that will put it in a good place, it actually goes towards cancer research and funding for those patients," she says.
Almost 16-years later, the 21-year-old Hamilton native is telling her story and the community has rallied behind her.
Columbus tells AM800 News, having more than 300 people commit to a charity event organized by someone they likely don't even know is amazing.
"Never did I ever expect it would ever get to this amount. Way back in the beginning I only ever expected like 60 to 80 people and I'm speechless right now," says Columbus. "My job mainly was trying to promote this and trying to explain how great this event is ... the fact that 300 people decided to listen to me is huge."
She says the event's fundraising goal is $50,000 — donations will still be accepted via the event's web page for another 30 days.
The event was held at the CAW Student Centre from 7pm Friday night until 7am Saturday morning.
More than 300 people have pledged their support for cancer research @UWindsor’s Relay for Life in the CAW Student Centre tonight. Organizer and cancer survivor Sarah Columbus says they’ve gathered $40k of their $50K goal already. @AM800News #cklw pic.twitter.com/raMDtZDIH6
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) March 22, 2019