Every spring, millions of people raise funds for the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.
For some, the event is a fun opportunity to enjoy food and activities with friends, all in the name of charity. But for Taylor Boucher, a third-year athletic training student, the event is deeply important.
“I recently lost my dad’s business partner of 20 years, a woman who I called ‘my nana,’ to cancer. She was very special to my family and me,” Boucher said. “I have also lost my grandfather and a friend that I graduated high school with.”
Boucher is USC’s Director of Internal Affairs for Relay for Life. Boucher works 10 hours a week controlling the logistics, entertainment and social media for the event.
Boucher began volunteering for Relay for Life a decade ago, after the death of his grandfather. He began in his hometown Calabasas, California, and he continued his involvement when he came to USC.
Because Relay has played such a large part in his life, Boucher said he knew he would come to have an important role in the program at the university.
“The first meeting that I walked into freshman year, I asked how I could become a director. And now I’ve achieved that goal, and it feels pretty awesome,” Boucher said.
While his involvement with Relay began a decade ago, Boucher is constantly reminded of why he got started.
Last summer, Boucher’s grandmother gave him a gift to commemorate his grandfather.
“Grandma had given me a box of my grandfather’s things, and in it was his lighter with his name engraved into it,” Boucher said. “I restored it to a working condition and now I keep it on my nightstand.”
Even in the midst of preparation for this year’s Relay, family is crucial to Boucher. His entire family, as well as the granddaughter of his dad’s business partner, is flying into Columbia to attend this year’s ceremony.
“I would encourage everyone to get involved [in Relay] because the American Cancer Society benefits so greatly from this,” Boucher said. “Their research is increased, and it honestly makes those who have had cancer happier. Also, it’s honestly just fun.”
This year’s Relay for Life will be on April 17 at 7 p.m. on Blatt Field. The theme is "Throwback" to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Relay.
“I’m 100 percent sure that Relay will always be a part of my life," Boucher said. "The electricity you feel on the field is just incomparable to anything else.”