On Jan. 30 the Herdsmen, the Herdsmen Hearts, and other citywide organizations will participated in their annual Relay for Life event to help raise money for the American Cancer Association. The event will take place at the Buffalo Sports Park at 7:00pm; the whole community is invited to join in and help raise money for the cause.
The Hearts started fundraising for the Relay in the fall by primarily putting on bake sales to raise money for the event.
“The whole organization is involved whether it’s baking for the bake sales, walking the track at the event, selling the hot cocoa, or making coffee to help everyone stay awake” said Renee Massey, Representatives to the Hearts and a senior dance major. To make sure everyone stays warm the Hearts will be selling hot cocoa or making coffee. During the 12 hour relay there are activities that people can participate in such as sand volley ball or Zumba some people even put on plays or live music; there is also food that is around the track being sold and prizes being given out.
For the teams or organization participating in the relay at least one member must walk the track all night, due to the weather that is being forecasted for the walk everyone is allowed to take turns walking.
“We expect to have a good crowd come to it and walk for the cause as well as raise money for it” Said Jordan Gilmore, an active member of the Heart’s and a sophomore studying animal science.
When planning the relay, the Hearts had to make sure they had a representative from the group attend all mandatory meetings; they also had to plan on a fundraiser and ways to raise money for the relay. The Hearts even came up with their very own organized schedule for who was to walk during the 12 hours.
“During the event we make sure we have everybody possible over there for the most active first 6 hours of the relay.” Said Madelyn Melchiors, president of the Hearts and a senior equine business major. Towards the end of the walk people who stay for the entire time are allowed to camp and hang out.
Since 1977 the Herdsman have been WT’s most spirited and traditional groups on campus. The group was formed due to the lack of spirit at football games by seven men that become the founding fathers. WT first live mascot was a 750 lb buffalo they named “Thunder”. The Herdsman are the ones who train and care for WT mascot, Tunder XI. When Thunder II was at WT the Herdsmen became more than a spirit organization They became the organization that promoted West Texas State University
The Herdsman Hearts are the sister organization to the Herdsman. The mascot is seen at each football game with the Hearts supprt. The Hearts raise money, oragnize events and support the Herdsman at football games. Both organizations are also involved in the Pigskin Reiveiw, and many more .The Herdsman involment in the WT the Buffalo Chip awarded each semester.
