Event This Weekend—

Relay For Life Set To Break Fundraising Records

By John Voket

According to 2008 Relay For Life Entertainment and Survivorship Chair Lynda Russo, every organizer, volunteer, sponsor, and team member heading into this weekend’s big event at Newtown High School can expect to contribute to another record-breaking year. Ultimately, that means helping to put the many research, support, education, and prevention activities of the American Cancer Society closer to their goal of ending the suffering cancer causes to millions.

As of June 4, Bank Night, Ms Russo is reporting that contributions have topped $350,000, just $11,000 shy of the entire amount generated by the 2007 event. And since dozens of on-site fundraisers will transpire over the course of the 12-hour relay, it appears certain that 2008 will be a banner year.

Newtown’s contingent of several thousand participants and visitors at the community’s fifth annual event will be among more than 100,000 supporting Relays For Life across Connecticut this weekend alone. This international event has become the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser since its inception in 1985.

Promoting an Olympic theme — the list of on-site events appears in a related article and ad in today’s Newtown Bee — dozens of other fundraising activities large and small have been occurring across the community for months. Newtown was also chosen as a national pilot site for an innovative online auction that closed out this week, helping to contribute to the near record-setting take.

Other activities that have played out across the community have included everything from bake sales to car washes. The My Three Sons Team, which includes clusters of multiple siblings — Alex, Nick and Michael Roche; Will, Owen, and Evan Swain; James, Thomas, and Steven Leuci; Colin, Graham and John Moller; Colin, Sean, and Riley McCafferty — is just one example.

Their “Cans For A Cure” campaign collected cans from family and neighbors to return for deposit contributions, along with selling candy at sporting events, having a house party, cleaning up streets, and even house cleaning for donations.

Even before the relay steps off at 5 pm Saturday, these and many other young people from town will be highlighted supporting the cause at the Kids For A Cure event, which runs from 3 to 5 pm. While the youth event is open to registered participants only, the relay is open to anyone looking to be a part of one of Newtown’s most inspiring events, according to event chair Necole Salvesen.

“Relay For Life is a unique opportunity for our community to come together in the fight against cancer,” said Ms Salvesen. “Our survivors are our celebrities. Many of the participants are cancer survivors, which includes anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer.”

She said everyone who has ever faced a cancer diagnosis serves as a reminder that Newtown is by no means immune to this disease.

“But by supporting this relay, we can actually help our friends, families, and neighbors who have been touched by cancer, through education, early prevention, and detection — they really do make a difference,” she said. “Today nearly two-thirds of all cancer deaths can be prevented.”

To date, Newtown has raised more than $1.1 million dollars for American Cancer Society. And nationwide, Relay For Life raised $405 million in fiscal year 2007 with more than 4,800 communities and more than three and a half million participants celebrating 500,000 cancer survivors.

Relays in more than 50 communities in Connecticut raised more than $6.6 million last year for local programs of cancer research, education, advocacy, and patient services, including transportation for cancer patients to treatments, one-on-one support for women with breast cancer, cosmetologist consultations for women being treated for cancer, tobacco control education, and mammography outreach.

“This year, we hope to bring our fundraising number to $1.5 million,” Ms Salvesen said. “It’s absolutely possible. As I see the results of all of the fundraisers and activities our registered teams have held over the past several months I’m truly amazed.”

One of the most highly attended community aspects of the relay is the luminaria ceremony, which will take place after sundown. To honor the community’s cancer survivors and to remember those lost to the disease, survivors will circle the track rimmed with glowing candle lanterns while the names of our honored survivors and those lost to the disease are read aloud.

Luminaria can be purchased at the relay and hand inscribed in time to be included in the June 7 tribute.

Registered participants are reminded that site setup must be completed between noon and 3 pm on Saturday. The Kids for a Cure starts promptly at 3 pm, and access to the field will be limited to Kids for a Cure participants during that time.

There is no smoking, alcohol, pets, open fires, generators, or grills allowed at the event. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase, or participants and visitors can bring their own.

Coolers with nonalcoholic beverages are permitted. And overnight attendees are asked to bring a comfortable chair, warm clothes, a blanket and good shoes for walking. Guests are welcome, but without exception must leave at midnight.

Only registered participants with proper colored arm bands will be allowed after midnight.