Plaid shirts, cowboy hats and blue jeans adorned members of the Ramsey family as they walked around the concourse of Munn Ice Arena this weekend to raise money for cancer research.
Physiology sophomore Ross Ramsey watched his family in the third annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life.
Each team could choose a theme for the event. The Ramseys showed up in western apparel to complement a "Hee Haw" theme.
"It's great to honor the survivors and help the fight to continue to find a cure for cancer," he said.
The family was one of about 40 teams who came to the relay to honor members of their family who died of the disease.
"As a family, this is the first year that we've come," Ramsey said. "In the past we've all just participated on different teams."
The event started on Saturday and continued through Sunday morning and had about 800 participants. Each team had to keep at least one member walking or skating for the entire 20 hours of the relay.
About $25,000 was raised through donations, fund-raisers and activities, which will fund cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services.
In addition, teams sold refreshments and other goods including fruit smoothies, plastic beads, chips, soda and stuffed plush elephants from the MSU College Republicans.
The relay opened with a survivor ceremony, during which medals and purple sashes were awarded to nine cancer survivors. The group later walked around the concourse to the songs "Amazing Grace" and "Hero."
Later, about 2,000 paper bags with candles inside were placed around the arena in memory of those who didn't survive the disease.
Other activities including human ice bowling, figure skating, broom ball and a pancake breakfast continued through the night. Participants brought in chairs, blankets, food and pillows.
Residents from Rather Hall dressed in clashing colors and patterns to match their theme: "Fashion Victims."
New Balance tennis shoes, orange socks, a red polka dot dress, a blue pea coat and an orange handkerchief made up pre-med freshman Jen Allen's outfit for the event.
"We were kicking around a bunch of ideas and this would be something fun to do," she said.
Students from the Air Force ROTC went for a more comfortable approach with army pants and T-shirts. The students made a campsite complete with couches and camouflage netting.
Criminal justice sophomore Sean Maday, part of the Air Force ROTC, said the relay is a great way to raise funds.
"It's a really noble cause," he said.
