As the sun sets over the football field, rows of paper bags will line the track, each glowing with a small candle inside. Together, they will form an infinity symbol, representing a fight that does not end when the light goes out.

Relay for Life will be hosted by Student Council for the first time on Feb. 28, running from 5  to 10 p.m. on the football field. The event is organized in partnership with the American Cancer Society to raise money for cancer research and patient support, while creating a space for the community to come together in remembrance and solidarity.

“Almost everyone has been affected by cancer in some way,” senior student body president Emilya Garza said. “This event gives our school a chance to stand together, raise funds and show our support for people who are currently fighting cancer and those who have fought it.”

As one of the primary student organizers, Garza has spent months coordinating details, from reserving the field to organizing performances, ceremonies, volunteers and student teams. She said that Relay For Life is meant to be inclusive, letting students participate however they can, whether that means walking a few laps, playing games or simply being present.

“You don’t have to run,” Garza said. “Relay For Life isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a really fun and memorable experience where you can hang out with friends, play games, eat food and still be part of something bigger.”

Attendees will be able to walk at their own pace, take part in fundraising games, listen to music, eat food and hear from cancer survivors who have chosen to share their stories. The night will conclude with the luminaria ceremony, where candlelit bags are placed on the field to honor loved ones and acknowledge the ongoing nature of the disease.

“Seeing people get excited about it this early made all the planning feel real,” Garza said. “Those moments are what make the night so beautiful.”

Senior student council vice president Valerie Hall said organizers wanted the night to feel less like an obligation and more like a genuine community gathering. To make that possible, student council members will be divided into committees responsible for decoration, food concessions, survivors outreach, fundraising, equipment and performance. 

“So many students have put time and energy into this,” Hall said. “When people come out and support it, it makes all that work feel worth it and brings the whole event to life.”

To encourage students to get involved, organizers added incentives tied to donation goals, including a challenge involving campus officials. 

“If we reach $5,000, Sloan has agreed to dye his hair purple, and maybe other teachers will join in too,” Hall said. “It’s a fun way to get people excited and get more students involved.”

For Relay For Life advisor and English teacher Tanya Wilkinson, watching students take ownership of the event has been especially meaningful. She said the event offers students a rare opportunity to pause, reflect and engage with an issue that affects nearly every family in some way.

“Relay For Life is not just an event for Cedar Park High School,” Wilkinson said. “We are coming together physically to show our support and honor the people we love.”

As the date approaches, organizers say the success of the night will depend not only on donations raised, but on whether students choose to show up and be present for one another. Hall said that sense of shared energy is what makes Relay For Life different from other school events.

“Student participation is what brings the event to life,” Hall said. “When people show up, it creates the energy that makes the night meaningful.”