Student-led impact
Students raise more than $1 million for cancer research and care
April 6, 2026
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During the luminary ceremony, participants walk the track lined with luminary bags, lit with tea lights, that each participant has made to share who they "relay" for. (Supplied photo/Relay for Life)
Relay for Life: a night of community and collective impact
Held March 20–21 in the Athletics and Recreation Centre (ARC), brought 902 student participants together for a 12-hour overnight event in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Led by co-chairs Juliet Krilanovich, Kavi Gupta, and Matteo Salceda, all health sciences undergraduate students, the event had raised more than $255,000 as of late March, with a projected total of approximately $260,000 by the end of the fundraising cycle, making it the most successful Relay campaign in the university’s history and the highest ever amount raised at a Canadian university.
What makes those numbers particularly striking is how they’re obtained, mainly through small, community-driven donations. “Most contributions are around $50,” the organizers explained, though the amounts range. “Some people give $5 or $10, while others might donate $1,000 or more. We’re truly grateful for every dollar donated that goes towards helping to prevent, treat, and hopefully one day cure cancer.”
Fundraising spreads through personal networks, with participating students sharing links among their friends and family. One fundraiser raised roughly $8,000 on their own, demonstrating how giving can really add up.
Survivors (in yellow shirts) lead the way during the first lap of the event. (Supplied photo/Relay for Life)
Beyond the numbers, the emotional core of the event was most evident during the luminary ceremony and open mic. As candles lit up the space, students shared stories of loss, survival, and resilience. “We thought we might need someone from our team to start the open mic, but once one person stepped up, others followed and it became something powerful,” the organizers said. “It showed how many people have a personal connection to the cause, how willing they are to share in a supportive space, and how strong the sense of community is.”
Cure Cancer Classic: rivalry fuels record-breaking fundraising
Days earlier, on March 12, the (CCC) transformed Slush Puppie Place into a sold-out arena of 5,000 fans. Organized by co-chairs Sarah Muxlow and Sarah Loveridge, both fourth-year commerce students, the commerce vs. engineering charity hockey game, culminating a season of fundraising, raised $721,875, already surpassing previous records, with donations still coming in.
Cure Cancer Classic organizers celebrate on ice after raising more than $721,000 for cancer research following the hockey game with donations still coming in. (Supplied Photo/Jackie Li)
Tickets for the game sold out in just four hours, with lines wrapping around campus buildings on release day. Inside the arena, the energy reflected the deep-rooted rivalry between faculties, with engineering ultimately claiming a 4–3 victory.
But the most powerful moment came before the puck dropped. As the lights dimmed, attendees were asked to turn on their phone flashlights if they had been affected by cancer and within seconds, the arena filled with thousands of lights. “Standing at center ice, we looked around and saw nearly every person in the crowd holding up their phone,” the co-chairs said. “It was an incredibly moving reminder that cancer has touched so many lives, and that no one is alone.”
That sense of unity, paired with faculty pride and fundraising competitions, helps drive the event’s success. Students don’t just compete on the ice, they compete to raise more, rallying their peers and networks to get behind their faculty teams.
Before the game began, attendees were asked to turn on their phone flashlights if they had been affected by cancer. (Supplied photo/Jackie Li)
Student-led giving supporting Queen’s research
With additional donations still coming in, the combined total for the two events has now surpassed $1 million. Proceeds support the Canadian Cancer Society, which advances research and patient care through Queen’s investigators at the and the .
While their formats differ, one an overnight relay, the other a high-energy hockey game, both are driven by student initiative and community support. Their success reflects a broader culture at Queen’s, where students lead with creativity, determination, and purpose. That momentum extends across campus, with other student-led initiatives continuing to rally their communities in support of cancer research.
The , organized by medical students, raised more than $60,000 following its March 7 matchup at Slush Puppie Place.
The turns the engineering and commerce rivalry into an annual basketball fundraiser, alongside a 3-on-3 tournament, and has raised more than $500,000 since 2021.
has raised more than $100,000 since 2019 and has grown into a national initiative through Soccer for Cancer.
“All of these student-led initiatives are much more than fundraisers,” says Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “They are a powerful demonstration of community, compassion, and collective impact, a testament to the remarkable leadership, generosity, and drive of students to unite around a shared cause.”
