By ADRIANA ROSALES
Contributing Writer
“We live to FIGHT, so others can FIGHT to LIVE” is the slogan Mathew Vincent created that was printed on the A CAPPELLA Night: Relay for Life Fundraiser flier. Held on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 8 pm
in St. Joseph’s auditorium, the event was planned by several members of Vincent’s Relay for Life Team, Team Monkey Bear.
Team Monkey Bear joined together in March of 2012. They created their Relay for Life team name because of their mascot, a plastic cookie jar. Way back when the team first got together, Co-captain Elisabeth Holbein had an animal cracker jar that was the shape of a bear. While Holbein thought one thing, other members of the group thought the jar looked like a monkey holding cymbals.
“We didn’t want to leave them out, so we became Team Monkey Bear,” said Vincent. Originally used for spare change, the jar became the reason the team decided to have a cause for raising money, that cause being Relay for Life. “We chose relay because we all have been affected by cancer, unfortunately,” said Vincent.
Supporters, upon entering, were asked to donate a minimum of $1, but also had the option to donate $5. Those who donated $5 received a luminary bag to decorate. Any bags purchased will be seen on the day of Relay for Life, lining the path around the quad.
The event was a cappella-themed, and included performances by The Golden Notes, The Other Guys, and The Girls Next Door. Each group had 15 to 20 minute sets, performing various songs such as “Red” by Taylor Swift, “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Bublé and “Same Love” by Mackelmore.
“I like to hear the a cappella groups when I get the chance to,” said Saint Rose student Emma Ervolina.
The event was hosted by two other members of Team Monkey Bear, Susan Walensky and Christopher Surprenant. Surprenant and Walensky were no ordinary hosts. Both took on fun, wacky characters. Surprenant played as “Sven,” a new Saint Rose student who just arrived from Minnesota a week ago, while Walensky acted as “Soozey”, a ‘shy’ Saint Rose graduate from New Jersey. Both were entertaining and kept the audience lively.
“I liked the songs, and the skits were cool,” said Saint Rose Junior Adrienne Gordon.
The a cappella groups had “the opportunity to help in some small way for a much larger cause; a really good cause,” said Conor Donovan, a member of The Other Guys.
The three A Cappella groups showed support through their music, clothing, and by spoken word. The Golden Notes sported black and gold clothing, while The Girls Next Door wore purple and black.
At the end of The Girls Next Door set, member Amelia Bach, told the audience “to donate whatever spare change that could be found in pockets, whether it was a penny, nickel, dime. Whatever.”
At the last minute, Olivia Deck, a member of Team Monkey Bear, informed the audience that “Guinness approved a world record at Saint Rose. We’re trying to donate the most hair in 24 hours.”
If you would like to help contribute to the world record and support Relay for Life by donating your hair, there are three requirements: no chemicals or permanent hair dye between now and the day of the relay, and you must have 8 inches of hair, minimum.
The kickoff will be next Wednesday, Nov. 13 in the Main Lounge at 8pm and the theme will be a Hollywood premiere. Vincent suggested “to wear your prom dresses and good suits.”
Relay For Life will be held April 25, 2014.
