Tribury Relay For Life, June 3-4, Could Still Use Volunteers

By Shannon Hicks

SOUTHBURY — The American Cancer Society’s 2000 Tribury Relay For Life will take place from 9 am Saturday, June 3, to 9 am Sunday, June 4, at the Pomperaug High School track. The official opening ceremony is planned for Saturday at noon.

Relay For Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society; it is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. It is also an event that brings together family and friends of cancer patients to celebrate those who have survived, to remember those who have not, and to continue the search for a cure.

The 1999 event raised over $6.3 million across the New England region, with over 60,000 participants, the majority of that number being cancer survivors. Last year’s Tribury event alone was responsible for more than $100,000 of that figure. A Relay For Life 2000 was held the weekend of May 20-21 in Bethel, and the effort will continue in Southbury the first weekend of June.

For 24 hours, participants take turns walking or running around a track, relay-style, keeping at least one member of their team on the track at all times. Funds raised through team registration fees and sponsorships from family, friends, neighbors and co-workers are donated to the American Cancer Society. Sponsorships are single donation pledges, not a pledge-per-mile.

Each team member is asked to raise a minimum of $100 before the event, and they can get as creative as they want — from outright donations to bake sales. All money goes directly to ACS.

The Relay is a non-competitive team event. Teams can be groups of people from corporations, hospitals, civic groups, schools and families. The American Cancer Society also helps people who may not have enough members to fill an entire team, but who would like to participate nevertheless. Even individuals can become part of the event by volunteering as an individual walker in advance, and then being assigned to a team through ACS coordinators.

The co-chairmen of this year’s Tribury event are Kathi Timothy and Paula Wingate, who spoke of their own experiences with cancer and their efforts for the Relay For Life during a recent meeting of Women’s Health Alliance. Mrs Wingate, who will be celebrating her second year of participating in the event, promised, “It’s a lot of fun. You get to meet a lot of wonderful people.”

Participants are not expected to remain on site for the full 24 hours of the Relay, although they are more than welcome to.

“You don’t have to stay for the whole thing,” Mrs Wingate promised. “You can walk for as long or as short as you can, and you stay only as long as you want to.”

The kickoff of the 24-hour event is something called The Survivors’ Lap. Before the Relay begins, all who have battled cancer are invited to walk a lap around the track. Survivors from throughout the community join together and walk the first lap, which can be a very moving experience.

After battling cancer, Mrs Wingate participated in a Relay For Life event both to raise money for an organization that was primary in helping her work her way through the disease and to find closure for herself.

Mrs Timothy and her children attended the 1999 Relay for Life together and it was then that she vowed, she said, “No longer will cancer be the center of our lives. We are going to move beyond this.

 “I can’t tell you how good it felt to do that lap,” Mrs Timothy shared. “Everyone, at some point in their life, is affected by cancer. For someone who went through it, that single walk around the track meant everything to me.”

At 10 pm Saturday evening, another traditional event — the lighting of the luminaria — will take place. For a contribution of $5 of more, anyone can sponsor a luminaria, or candle lantern, that will be placed around the track in memory or in honor of someone of the purchaser’s choice.

The name of the loved one is placed on one of the luminaries, and anyone who wants to is welcome to walk around the track once all the candles are lit. A moment of silence is observed, and then the lap itself is accompanied by special music.

“There are way too many ‘In Memory’ bags along the track,” Mrs Timothy said. “And that’s the most somber point of the weekend. It really makes it all too real. But the full weekend it a really good healing time, too.”

“It’s a very beautiful, very emotional event,” added Mrs Wingate. “It is a special moment, but it isn’t as solemn as you’d think. The entire weekend is a lot of fun.”

Teams can camp out right alongside the track. Tents and sleeping bags are encouraged, and as the night moves on, ACS presents more events to keep everyone entertained. Past relays have included everything from pajama contests and fashion shows to pizza parties and “The Wacky Olympics,” all meant to keep the spirit light and everyone entertained.

A multi-denominational sunrise service will be offered Sunday morning, and then Relay For Life concludes with a closing ceremony and a final Victory Lap for everyone that participated, 24 hours after the starting time.

Relay For Life raises money for American Cancer Society programs. Among ACS’ offerings is comprehensive cancer information available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 800/ACS-2345 (800/227-2345) or www.cancer.org. ACS also sponsors ongoing innovative cancer research by top-notch scientists (30 of whom, funded by ACS over the years, have won Nobel Prizes), and compassionate services for cancer patients and their family including rides to treatment, peer support and other resources.

ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer by preventing the disease, saving lives from the disease, and diminishing the suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

Pomperaug High School is on Judd Road, straddling the Southbury-Middlebury border. It is immediately off Route 188, opposite the Hilton. Use Exit 16 off I-84, either direction.

For details on participating in the Tribury Relay For Life or to sponsor a luminaria, contact Marie Greco at the Meriden ACS office, 800/492-7161, extension 4876. Email may be sent directly to Ms Greco at mgreco@cancer.org.