There are many things that define Michael Morris. Cancer is not one of them.

Twenty-one months ago, he was packing his bags for Mexico for three weeks in paradise. But three days before his vacation, he saw a specialist who suggested a colonoscopy “just to be safe.” This heightened sense of caution saved Morris’s life.

Diagnosed with colon cancer July 10, 2007, the associate professor of foreign language and literature made his message known before a crowd of about 1,000 people at the Relay For Life on Friday: he will not give in to cancer.

“I won’t let it define me,” Morris said, his back turned to giant purple letters spelling out ‘hope’ inside the Convocation Center. “I’m not cancer and cancer is not me: I am someone who has had cancer.”

While Morris believes cancer does not define one’s existence, sophomore biology major Karissa Hunter said the issue has greatly affected the current generation.

“Sometime during your life you’re going to come into contact with someone who has cancer,” Hunter said .

Last year, Hunter’s grandmother was diagnosed with leukemia. While she initially felt guilty for taking her beloved relative for granted, the disease that usually tears families apart brought hers together, she said.

“I kind of took her for granted, because I didn’t spent a lot of time with her,” she said. “So, I called her more and just said ‘I love you’ a lot. We went out to dinner a lot as a family.”

Two of Stephanie Bong’s grandparents also battled the disease. The junior sociology and political science major admits both her grandmothers’ passing inspired her to become a part of Relay For Life, where she serves on the luminary committee. As if that weren’t enough, Bong also represents the American Red Cross, raising money and awareness to help find a cure.

“I wish I could do more, but you always want to do more,” Bong said. “I guess I’ve done as much as I can this year, and I’ll just start again all over tomorrow for next year.”

Junior communications major Mike Schulte echoed Bong’s enthusiasm. Last October, Schulte’s mother passed away from lung cancer. He gathered his closest friends and relatives to raise almost $1,500 for Relay For Life. Although cancer has permanently affected his life, he continues

to collect money in hope that a cure is on the horizon.

“[Losing my mother] was such a sudden loss, and I just feel that if I helped raise money against cancer, other people won’t have to feel the pain that I felt,” Schulte said.