Rain-Swept Relay Did Not Deter Hundreds Walking For The Cause

By John Voket

Ken Ayles, honorary chair of Newtown’s 2009 Relay For Life, has often said he will not let a brain tumor the size of a plum take him out without a fight, so a little wind and rain certainly did not deter the hulking truck driver from being among the first to arrive and the last to leave last weekend’s rain-soaked event.

Whether it was walking around in a gigantic foam rubber wig and dress for the “Miss Relay” competition, his moving keynote address to more than a thousand volunteers and supporters, or his constant presence on the track — with and without an umbrella, depending on the hour — Mr Ayles was never far from the action.

But thanks to this year’s new location, event chair Necole Salvesen pointed out that everyone participating was up close to the action.

“Fairfield Hills worked out so well; there was enough room for every team to be trackside,” Ms Salvesen said. “That means nobody missed a beat. There was great exposure to all the teams doing individual activities and fundraising, and there was loads of room in the center field for kids to play without interfering with activities at the sites.”

Ms Salvesen said despite the weather, which went from overcast, to drizzle, to a full-blown downpour at several points during the 12-hour Relay, as well as sprinkling on the Kids for a Cure mini-relay earlier Saturday, everyone involved just rolled with it. And being in the parklike setting of Fairfield Hills, she said, was a contributing factor to this year’s Relay success.

“I’ve been involved for all five years of Newtown’s relays, and this was the best, and most fun,” she said. “Everyone came together, braving the weather...there were smiles on everybody’s faces and a huge number of people turned out to support the cause. I’m so impressed with Newtown’s devotion to our Relay.”

Apparently, Newtowners and local businesses are impressed with the local Relay organizers as well, because this year’s quarter-million-dollar earnings helped propel the community past the $1.8 million mark in dollars raised so far.

But again, one did not have to go much farther than Ken Ayles and the many purple-shirted survivors to witness the benefits of cancer research, treatments, and outreach services all supported by the dollars raised at more than 60 Connecticut Relays. In fact, the growing number of survivors living longer is evidence that science, healthy lifestyle adjustments, and awareness are stealing lives back from the various cancers that up until just a few years ago, may have robbed families like the Ayles of their loved ones way too soon.

Ms Salvesen also recognized the important roles local cancer survivors play in the recovery of those who are newly diagnosed. Those groups had already broken bread together the previous weekend at Newtown’s first “Hope Reception” held June 7 on National Survivors Day.

“The survivors said they enjoyed having this celebration on a different evening from the Relay, as we had in the past,” Ms Salvesen said.

Keeping with the theme of an “All-American Picnic,” DJ Rodd Blessy spun upbeat tunes and matched thematic music to various specialty laps. Connecticut-based recording artist Javier Colon, the child of two cancer survivors, made a special appearance to lend support to opening ceremonies crooning James Taylor’s “Shower the People” during one of the few moments when the setting sun broke free of the threatening rain clouds as survivors and caregivers completed the opening lap just after 5:30 pm.