KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Lydia Koch, a retail and consumer science junior and Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor, left, and Katie Kowalek, a molecular and cellular biology junior, browsed through a brochure about Relay For Life last night in the Mesa room of the Student Union Memorial Center. Relay For Life, a two-day event to raise awareness and money for cancer research, will be held at UA's Roy P. Drachman field on Feb. 27 and 28.

After having his leg amputated as a result of bone cancer, Jason Martinson felt lucky to be alive.

Now Martinson will walk with a prosthetic, along with other students impacted by cancer, in order to spread awareness and raise money for the American Cancer Society as part of an initiative to bring Relay for Life to the UA campus next month.

Martinson, a physiological sciences junior, had a large tumor in his left ankle and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer, the most common type of bone cancer in children, at 13. Today, he is a cancer survivor and is helping the American Cancer Society raise money by serving as the survivor representative for the pre-med club Alpha Epsilon Delta.

People like Martinson, along with more than 100 volunteers, are all preparing for the first UA campus Relay for Life campaign sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

Relay for Life has over 300 teams nationwide and has recently become international. This event raises approximately $3 million a year and makes up for about one-third of the American Cancer Society's proceeds that help support cancer research, education and awareness.

Relay for Life is already held at the beginning of October at Tucson Electric Park, but is aimed more at the Tucson community. The new event at the UA is geared more toward students, said John Zachary deDios, publicity chair of Relay for Life.

"ASU and NAU have issued a friendly challenge with the UA to see who can raise the most money," deDios, a biology and journalism junior, said.

Relay for Life will be taking place at Roy P. Drachman field, 501 S. Plumer Ave., Feb. 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Martinson never thought he would be diagnosed with cancer, especially at such a young age, but he still considers himself lucky compared to many others.

"I was really shocked when I was diagnosed because I was a very healthy kid and I played all sorts of sports. Afterward, I became really depressed," Martinson said. "I have it pretty good, though. When I was younger, I was right next to other kids with cancer in the hospital for one week and, before I know it, they died the next week."

Katie Kowalek, a molecular and cellular biology junior and the team registration chair, knows how cancer does not only affect the one diagnosed, but loved ones as well. Kowalek's father was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, but did not survive.

"He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in July 2001, right before I left for my freshman year of college," Kowalek said. "You never expect it to be cancer, and you always hope it's a kind that can be cured, but no one is ever sure. Those are just words you never want to hear."

Relay for Life is a way for people who have come across cancer in their lives to meet other people and to support the cause.

"My friend with leukemia told me to join, and it has been interesting to see people who you never knew were cancer survivors. It is great, too, because this never feels like charity work since I get to hang out with friends," Martinson said.

By working in teams of eight to 15 people, and with a rule that one person must always be on the track, Kowalek hopes to send a message about cancer.

"Cancer never sleeps, so on this night, we won't sleep," she said.

The highlight of the night is when the luminaria ceremony takes place to honor those fighting cancer and those who have lost the battle.

"The special moment of the relay is the luminaria ceremony, where hundreds to thousands of people are honored. Bags with lit candles will have names of loved ones with, or who died from, cancer," deDios said.

People interested in participating or volunteering with Relay for Life can get information at the team captains' meeting at the Marriott Hotel tomorrow night. The general walk-in information session is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the meeting starts immediately afterward. A team can still be formed until Feb. 16.

An information table staffed by Relay for Life representatives will be on the UA Mall tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at 323-4204.

The Wildcat Regrets the error.