Imagine a person forced to stay awake for 18 hours straight while walking continuously, only having the opportunity to eat while on the move. Now, imagine instead that this person is walking for charity.

This is the real life case of sophomore Scott Waters, who walked all 18 hours of the fund raising event Relay for Life not once, but five times.

“I just started doing it one year and I didn’t stop,” said Waters. “Then, I got recognition for it and I wanted to do it more.”

Relay For Life allows people to form teams and take turns walking around a track for 18 hours, all while raising money for cancer research, as well as raising awareness for cancer, celebrate survivors, and recognize those affected by the disease.

Waters first participated in Relay for Life in fifth grade and walked around the track for the entire event. He repeated this feat every year after that, and by the year 2011, he received two different awards for his commitment.

“I received the People’s Choice award in last year and the most walkative award two years ago,” said Waters.

Waters is not new to tests of endurance. He has participated in long distance runs, including the Disney Princess Half-Marathon on Feb. 26. Waters also joined the boys cross country team before leaving after a small dispute with the coaches.

“The track coaches said I couldn’t set a goal,” said Waters. “Now I have a goal that I’ve succeeded in doing.”

Waters plans to participate in his sixth relay May 12-13 and continue his 18 hour walking record. He will walk with the Amy’s Amigos team and looks forward to the event, as well as another 18-hour walk around the South Lakes track. 

“I really love friends that come out and walk with me at two in the morning,” said Waters. “It gets really lonely out there.”

Find out more about Relay for Life in Reston at http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=41147