Rockin’ bands, free food, supporting a good cause; how much better could a night get? This could be your night on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008. The event is “Rock for Life” and starts at 5 p.m. It is being planned by the Auburn University Marketing Association and all of the proceeds of the events will go to the American Cancer Society to fund innovative research in attempts to cure and prevent cancer.

Bands will be playing all night starting at 5 p.m. with April Cover, an alternative band from Birmingham; then Danny and the Tanks, a jam band from Auburn; and rocking out the end of the night starting at 8 p.m. is Hightide Blues, “Auburn’s favorite,” said Gena Ozier, president of AUMA.

The event will take place at the Student Act pavilion on Biggio Drive. A minimum donation of $5 is asked at the door for admission.

Ozier conceptualized the event after her 16-year-old cousin, Mary, died of cancer after a two-year long battle. She wanted this event to be in memory of her. Ozier’s grandmother also died of cancer earlier this year.

“Cancer is something that’s really important to me, and it’s something I think can be defeated, but we all have to do our part,” Ozier said.

The event is a take-off of Relay for Life, another event held to benefit the American Cancer Society. The tagline of Rock for Life, “Everyone deserves a Merry life,” was inspired by Ozier’s cousin.

“The fight against cancer is not about the one person you have lost, or the two people you have lost, but about the future. No one deserves to die. No one deserves to suffer. It’s a very unfortunate situation and it’s something that can be fixed and needs to be fixed.”

Ozier is trying to affect the future through this event. She says every cash and check given will be handed straight over to the American Cancer Society. There will also be a graffiti wall for people to write on in memory or in honor of someone they know who has been affected by cancer. The cost is $1 to write on the wall and Ozier feels it will just be something special to make the event your own.

Free food will also be at the event. Mikata’s fried rice will be handed out along with other food from various restaurants. Ozier said, “If you want to get some fried rice, you better get there early, because it’s going to go fast.”

Ozier said a lot of hard work goes into planning an event of this type. Someone must talk with managers of the bands and solicit sponsors in the community. A publicity team must design fliers and distribute them. Their job is also to design billboards and press releases.

Ozier has a five-year plan for this event and wants to make it happen at all major SEC schools. “I would love for this to become a national event even. It would be great if that could happen.”