For a number of years now, the ELANCO School District has held a biennial Mini Relay For Life to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society. The outdoor event is organized by the Garden Spot High School (GSHS) Health Council, a group of up to 40 students. The most recent event was planned for May 10, but when bad weather threatened, health teacher Julie Groft moved quickly to bring the activities inside.

Students who entered GSHS by the back entrance that morning were met with multicolored laser lighting accompanied by popular tunes. In the cafeteria, students Kiki Cruz and Juliana Falls painted distinctive and colorful ribbons on students' faces. Just prior to the start of the school day, Groft took to the public address system to explain the changes in the schedule and encourage participation. "(Mini Relay) is a day when the entire district comes together for one cause," announced Groft, who noted that every student would have been given the opportunity to walk the school track for 30 minutes in honor of someone who has or had cancer. "(It's) a day to build awareness around cancer and help fight against it," Groft told students. Instead of 30 minutes on the track, students walked around their first block classroom for five minutes. Health Council members in purple T-shirts visited classrooms to ask trivia questions about cancer.

Plans for this year's event began in September 2023, and fundraising and other activities commenced in April. A pickleball tournament was held at Blue Ball Elementary School, and, as in the past, a purple toilet and a flock of flamingoes were moved around New Holland as donors paid to have the items placed on friends' lawns. In addition, Health Council members visited each of the district's elementary schools to teach younger students about cancer. Groft drove to New Holland, Blue Ball, and Brecknock elementary schools on May 10 to collect funds raised by students.

Junior Morgan Watt chose to make her National Honor Society junior deputy project a fundraiser for the Mini Relay. She chose four teachers - Groft, Jeff Martin, and Rob and Laura Schneider - and divided them into teams. Watt placed two jugs - one for each team - in the school office, and students deposited donations in the jug of the team they wanted to see take pies to their faces during the school's Spring Fling on April 26. Groft and Laura's jug was 3 pounds heavier, and both women were "pied" with confections made with shaving cream. "It was really exciting," exclaimed Watt, who raised more than $700 with the project.

GSHS principal Matt Sanger, a 13-year cancer survivor, concluded the time of walking around the classrooms with an announcement of appreciation for student participation. "Just as I have overcome the disease, I think together we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those battling cancer," said Sanger, who then asked for 30 seconds of silence in honor of those whose lives have been lost to the disease.