Hundreds gathered Friday at Slippery Rock University's Robert N. Aebersold Student Recreation Center for a Relay for Life event, raising money for cancer research and assistance.

One student, Sydney Kresconko, got to tell her story.

“I was diagnosed when I was 13 on Nov. 30, 2012,” she said.

Kresconko detailed her fight with a Stage 4 form of lymphoma.

“Basically lymphoma attacks your lymph nodes and any of the systems that keep you healthy,” Kresconko said. “I've been in remission for 4 ½ years.”

But remission is not certain, and it is not easy, according to Kresconko.

She said she still struggles with the lasting pain, anxiety and other effects of the disease, the chemotherapy and 24 surgeries.

“When I get to Nov. 30 of this year, I will be officially cancer free,” Kresconko said.

As she said this to the crowd of participants who lined the walls of the upper-deck track, she was flanked by her family and friends who supported her through it all. A round of applause rose.

She told the crowd that despite everything, she has embraced that struggle for life because it defined her as a person and made her stronger.

“I had cancer, but the cancer never had me,” Kresconko said.

As these words resonated with the crowd, Kresconko was joined by other cancer survivors from the community to complete the first lap. After their lap was completed, other participants joined in.

Gail Gronlund, an SRU junior and one of the student organizers, is the president of the Colleges Against Cancer Club which works with the American Cancer Society. Gronlund said the disease has affected many of her friends and family, and she wanted to be part of the solution.

“I think eventually we can find a cure for cancer,” she said. “I don't know how long it will take.”

Gronlund said the organizers brought in a bouncy castle, a photo booth and live music for the participants.

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“This year, I believe we have over 35 teams registered and 400 participants,” Gronlund said. “That's really exciting because I don't think the turnouts were as great in previous years, so we're just hoping to better ourselves as a club and continue improving.”

The participants registered for the event in teams, and the teams each had a booth. The different organizations sold crafts, food and game opportunities to passers-by.

Michael Costanzo, a senior and member of social fraternity Kappa Sigma, said his group did a nacho bar, which was well received.

“We're just going and showing support to every single table and are raising as much money as we can,” Costanzo said.

Costanzo said he has lost members of his family to cancer, and the event offers a chance at reflection and bonding.

“It allows people to remember those whom they have lost,” Costanzo said. “It also provides a place where people can just come together and find comfort with one another.”

The event raised $27,437.46, according to the American Cancer Society donation page.

SRU Alumna Amy Lynn Clark of the American Cancer Society worked with student organizers on the event. Clark said the donated money comes from a variety of places and methods, but the biggest contributor is online donations.

“The difference between a collegiate event and a community event is so much money is raised online,” Clark said. “They were at $19,000 on Tuesday, and now they're over $26,000. In four days that's the kind of money that comes in now.”

She said SRU is a special place and the community has consistently shown support for the event, and she is looking forward to continuing that.

“I think what is unique about the Slippery Rock event is how well it is received on campus,” Clark said. “The old school team-based relay model is still thriving here at Slippery Rock, so we're going to ride the wave as long as we can.”