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Relay For Life Was Inspiring, Successful Despite Rain Storms

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Relay For Life Was Inspiring, Successful Despite Rain Storms

By John Voket

Nearly 1,000 participants, supporters, and cancer survivors turned out to help make the 9th Anniversary Newtown Relay for Life a success June 1. The annual event, held on the Fairfield Hills campus, initially raised about $185,000 and fundraising was continuing into the week.

The event, which was held for the first time locally on a Friday evening instead of Saturday, was marked by inspiring high points including remarks from cancer survivors, family members, and caregivers. Organizers were even able to move through the pivotal luminaria ceremony just after dark, and before a threatening thunderstorm forced a brief evacuation of attendees into the Newtown Youth Academy’s field house.

While no dangerous lightning occurred, an intense cloudburst put a damper on several teams, which began packing up upon being released from the evacuation order around 10 pm. Those who stayed continued to walk the track, some still dressed in costumes to commemorate the Relay’s super heroes theme.

Activities including the “Fight Back” ceremony complete with a flash mob lap, a frozen T-shirt contest, and a scrabble lap continued into the early morning hours when another much larger weather front moved in, prompting organizers, security personnel, and public safety officials to close the event for good around 1:30 am.

A survivor reception kicked off the event with choreographed entertainment from the Monroe Dance Academy. Opening ceremonies commenced with a solo dance tribute to survivors by Ridhi Sahani. The national anthem which was sung by Michelle Zarifis, supported by a color guard from the St Rose of Lima Knights of Columbus.

Co-chair Michelle Babyak opened the speaking program by reminding all in attendance that at some point in their lives, one in three people will hear the words, “You have cancer.”

“That is a scary number. That is why I Relay,” shouted Ms Babyak, herself a stage 4 cancer survivor. “I Relay because the American Cancer Society with the money we raise here today, supports research that is saving lives. I believe in our lifetime, we will find a cure.”

Co-chair Cheryl Jablonowski then came to the microphone to thank a host of corporate sponsors, which all told contributed more than $38,000 to the cause. She also recognized the top fundraising teams, including Las Mamacitas which generated $25,576 in contributions, and team Brainstorm, which doubled its fundraising since 2011 with a $14,736 contribution.

Team Giggles for a Cure was called out as the top youth team for raising $5,791, while Janelle Graham of Las Mamacitas was feted for her individual effort, which contributed $8,162, and top youth fundraiser Geoff Santore, the son of Relay Honorary Caregiver Lorraine Santore, who raised $1,740.

Longtime corporate supporter and fundraiser Guy Russo spoke about the work he quietly does to support the Relay in memory of his late father. And Honorary Chair Sue Rocca handed off her speaking duties to daughter Jamie because she was confined to a wheelchair after recently injuring her hip.

At that point more than 100 cancer survivors took up behind the color guard for the ceremonial opening lap, after which volunteers continued the circuit with brief breaks for activities like the popular Miss Relay competition, which saw several creative gentlemen racing around the track in drag to collect votes in the form of cash tips.

Just after dark, Ms Santore, who was accompanied by daughter Ashley and son Geoff, spoke, leading into the luminaria ceremony. She talked about the long and heart-breaking illness that took her husband and best friend Bob, and how her and her children’s caregiving was supplemented by dozens of family members, friends, and members of the community she never met, who donated meals and other support in the weeks and months before and after Bob Santore’s passing.

Geoff was also able to relate some of his feelings about the tragic experience before he stepped away from the microphone choking up with emotion.

Despite the pesky rainstorms that dealt a glancing blow to the ceremonies before eclipsing the final hours of the event, Ms Babyak and other volunteers and committee members remained upbeat as they packed up equipment and supplies while looking forward to sunnier skies and more favorable conditions when the 2013 Relay For Life returns to Fairfield Hills next June.

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