Relay for Life

FIU Relay for Life at FIU is a street fair-style celebration of life and hope that one day we will find a cure for cancer. Take a moment to connect with the FIU community and honor our cancer survivors and caregivers. No matter who you are, there's a place for you at Relay. All proceeds go directly to the American Cancer society. Each dollar you raise will help save lives. How far will you go to make a difference in the fight against cancer? Your reasons for walking in Relay For Life are as unique and special as the story that motivates you.

The 2026 Relay for Life will take place March 6th, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Ryder Business Loop. Groups of students, staff, families or friends form Relay teams and Relay teams and fundraise throughout the year culminating their efforts at the Relay event where there will be food, activities, music and lots of fun for everyone. Remember, people make the teams, teams make the event, and the event changes everyone. This is your opportunity to not only honor cancer survivors and remember people we have lost, but also to raise funds and awareness to help save lives. Because of your support, we are creating a world where cancer can't claim another year of anyone's life. You are helping create a world with less cancer and more birthdays!

This year’s theme is will be announced on September 29^th in the pit from 11-1pm.

Visit https://go.fiu.edu/relaycommittee for more information on ways to get involved and for the link to our fundraising page on the American Cancer Society website.

Students hold signs about how they attack cancer

Donate

Relay For Life 2026

Ways to Participate

Make a Team

Teams must have 1 team captain and at least 10 team members! They do not have to be FIU students.
Register your team at www.relayforlife.org/FIUFL. Every team member must pay a $25 registration fee that counts towards your total. Your registration fee includes a commemorative 2025 t-shirt and your first free Luminaria bag, these items can be picked up at check-in at the main event
Fundraise! You will need to have at least 10 members earning $100 EACH in order to qualify for a tent spot at Relay.
At Relay, your team will fundraise by selling something, making something or providing a service or activity. Past fundraisers include:
- Food/drinks (non-alcoholic)
- Accessories/"jewelry"
- Airbrush tattoos
- Games/Chance Drawings

Spirit Points

Spirit points are given to those organizations that not only fundraise the most, but also participate the most! You can participate by:

Attending Team Captain Meetings and bring team members.
Attending pre-events
Donating 8 inches of hair to Beautiful Lengths
And many other opportunities that will be announced as they come!
At the end of Relay, we total all the spirit points and give the Spirit Cup to organizations that have the most spirit points!

Beautiful Lengths

We are partnered with Pantene Beautiful Lengths to accept hair donations that are used to make wigs for cancer patients. Hair donations will occur in private at the events before Relay, or on stage the day of Relay. You can ask a special someone to cut your hair, and a stylist can style your new look for a discounted price (that will be donated to ACS).

Requirements

Hair donations must be at least 8"
You may straighten curly/wave hair to make the cut
Hair must not be permanently dyed, bleached, chemically treated or contain more than 5% gray
You may color with vegetable or semi-permanent dye
Hair must be completely clean and dry

Survivorship

Relay For Life also honors those who survived cancer treatment. We will be having a free Survivor dinner at Relay For Life in honor of those who have won their fight. If you are a survivor or know a survivor, please contact us.

Dedicate a Luminaria

Luminarias are small paper lanterns that placed around the Relay track in honor or in memory of someone who has been affected by cancer. They are sold for donations of $1, $2 or $5, depending on the type selected, and are lit during a very special Luminaria ceremony during the Relay event. You can purchase a Luminaria by contacting anyone who is on the Relay for Life committee.

Relay for Life luminaries