$160,000 Raised For The Fight Against Cancer—

Relay For Life Raises Spirits And Money

By Kaaren Valenta

The goal was $25,000, but by the time daylight broke over Blue and Gold Stadium at Newtown High School last Sunday morning, Newtown’s first Relay For Life had raised nearly $160,000 for the fight against cancer.

“We far exceeded what we expected when we started this months ago,” Co-chair Dawn Escoda said on Wednesday. “The total that night was about $160,000, and our expenses are very minimal because so much was donated. And the money is still coming in. It’s absolutely overwhelming!”

Relay For Life, the signature event of the American Cancer Society, is held nationwide in about 4,000 communities during the year. Sixty-three teams of walkers, composed of about eight to 15 members each, signed up to walk in Newtown’s relay, pledging to keep at least one member on the track throughout the night.

“Relay For Life is a whole-year production, but we were not able to start anything until February or March,” said Newtown’s Co-chair Ivette Gerics. “Everyone really scrambled. It was amazing.”

The money raised will be used to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to find a cure for cancer and to provide patient services, but the event was as much about celebrating cancer survivors and remembering loved ones lost to cancer as it was about fundraising.

In the opening ceremony, the Zarifis family, honorary chairmen of the event, had words of encouragement for the more than 200 survivors and caregivers who attended the survivor reception and walked the first lap around the track. Jimmy Zarifis, 13, is recovering from complications that followed surgery for a malignant brain tumor.

“Jimmy told me to say you’ve got to persevere,” his father, Jim Zarifis, said. “Don’t worry about what you can’t do, find out what you can do and keep working toward your dreams and goals. Keep your priorities straight: God, family, then work.”

Mr Zarifis said he struggles to find the answers when his son asks, ‘Will I be able to walk again? Will I play baseball again? Will I get cancer again?’

“We need to find a cure. We need to make the big C a little C,” he said.

At the height of the activities on Saturday night, nearly 3,000 people filled the stadium, according to Dominic Posca, the school district’s supervisor of buildings and grounds. Midway during the evening, the stadium lights were turned out and 1,590 luminaria were lit, ringing the track, while walkers carried lit candles.

“It was a fantastic event,” Mr Posca said. “I certainly enjoyed donating my time for such a good cause. The planning was great and I was amazed at how many people came. When I was down low, on the field, I couldn’t see it, but when I went up top and looked down and started counting heads, it was incredible.”

“Without the help of Dominic Posca and Carl Samuelson of Park & Rec, and their crews, we could not have pulled this off,” Ms Escoda said. “They were wonderful.”

Months of work culminated at 3 pm Saturday when teams began arriving to set up their campsites.

“The logistics committee did an incredible job,” Ms Escoda said. “Mark Osborne arranged to get a loan of golf carts from the Steven Willand Company to transport the tents and supplies from the parking areas to the sites.”

Survivors and caregivers were feted at 5 pm at a Hoedown of Hope dinner reception under a huge tent set up at one end of the track. After the opening ceremonies at 7 pm, cancer survivors and caregivers united in a “victory lap” to kick off the relay.

During the luminaria ceremony, which began at 9 pm, the high school Technology Club showed a slide presentation commemorating cancer survivors and remembering those who lost their battle with cancer.

“The Tech Club was so impressive all night. They did an incredible job,” Ivette Gerics said. “I want to call each of their parents and tell them how great they are.”

Music, games, a magician, a dance contest, movies, aerobics, and other activities were held during the 12-hour event.

Two area bands, Mary Beth and Gary Sippin, and Charisma played during the evening. Lynda and Guy Russo donated the services of Charisma after successfully bidding for it in a recent fundraising auction dinner dance at the Reed Intermediate School. The Russos also have volunteered to help chair next year’s Relay For Life, which has been set for June 11–12 at the high school.

“We already need to restructure the planning because the event got so big, so fast,” Ms Gerics said. “It really blew Dawn and I out of the water, we were spread so thin. I didn’t realize how tired I was until I feel asleep twice [on Tuesday], while sitting up.

“But it was so rewarding,” she said. “So many people have told me they already are putting together teams for next year.”

The event committee included Diane Lavin, corporate partnership; Helen Benson, registration; logistics, the Russos and Beckett and Ken Condon; team registration, Terri Greenfield; publicity, Mary Marinaccio; survivorship, Barbara Baldino, Peg Redmond, and Shane Miller; luminaria, Alice Mascher; cancer control, Lisa LaForte and Glorianne Gavin; entertainment, Maryann and Brittany Ziman; day of event, Gina McDade.

Ms Mascher said that anyone who loaned photos to the Relay For Life slide presentation may pick them up at Bob Tendler’s office on Church Hill Road any day between 9 am and 5:30 pm.

Teams that still have money to turn in should contact Helen Benson at 426-3383.

“I think we’re definitely going to break some records,” Dawn Escoda said. “I’m still getting phone calls and collecting money.”

“It was something the town should be proud of — I know I’m proud,” Dom Posca said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, who spoke during the opening ceremonies, agreed.

“These kind of events make me so proud to be your first selectman,” he said. “This is the greatest town in America.”