Four Weeks And Counting: Relay Prep Nearing Fever Pitch

With less than a month to go before the Relay For Life launches at its new Fairfield Hills location, preparation on several fronts is nearing the red zone of excitement. There are activities from bake sales to the local “Beautiful Lengths” hair donation program, even an online auction cranking up.

The final push is on to line up stage entertainment and lap activities, and even Relay committee members themselves are brainstorming and producing ideas to keep the momentum going into the weekend of June 13.

Coming out of the May 12 committee meeting is a weekly promotion to keep all the teams engaged in raising the support needed to participate. All team captains should be looking for “Winner Wednesday Challenges,” which include a public pampering of that weekly winner by the Relay Executive Committee — which will be done publicly during the event.

Other Wednesday challenges will award a gift basket of “Relay equipment,” a gift certificate to the “Relay Cafe” to pig out on the house; or a chance to become “Relay Royalty,” according to Newtown Relay co-founder, team and 2009 finance chair Helen Benson.

“That week’s most successful man and woman team leaders will become the King and Queen of the Relay,” she said. This means an official main stage coronation ceremony, and perhaps an occasional grand circuit of the track on the official relay chariot — or golf cart.

Around town, Miryam Wilson and her team the Cake Pirates were busy raising Relay awareness while selling baked goods to benefit the cause at the Queen Street Dunkin’ Donuts last weekend. Ms Benson reminds all team members and the public, who will be welcome to visit the Relay site during most of the June 13 festivities, that there will also be loads of onsite fundraisers such as jewelry and craft sales, team raffles and contests, massages, and a dunk tank courtesy of Newtown Savings Bank’s team.

That’s Entertainment!

Entertainment chair John Voket is in the final stages of lining up talent for both the main stage and around the site to keep the Relay theme of an “All American Picnic” going into the wee hours of Saturday morning and up to the event’s closing ceremonies June 14 at 5 am.

“We’ve approached School Superintendent Janet Robinson requesting both the Middle School and the High School Jazz Bands to perform,” Mr Voket said. “We’ve got several teams adopting themed laps around the track, we’ll have the extremely popular frozen T-shirt contest at 3 am sharp, our first ever court of the King and Queen of Relay, and one of the event’s biggest hits — the Miss Relay competition, which usually draws some very interesting competition from among participants.”

Relay co-founder Survivorship and On-Line Auction Chair Lynda Russo reminds residents to take advantage of the Newtown exclusive public On-Line Auction that is happening now through midnight, June 7 — just click on the Auction link at www.relayforlife.org/newtownct to view all the items and start your bidding.

She reminds all who are participating to check the site frequently for newly added items while the auction is in process. Auction items will be available for pickup on the day of the Relay between 3 and 6 pm.

Ms Russo is also calling on all cancer survivors, which includes anyone diagnosed with cancer, no matter how recently, to be involved in the Survivor’s Hope Reception. The ceremony, dinner, and entertainment is being provided to all cancer survivors at the St Rose Church Hall on Church Hill Road from 6 to 9 pm June 7.

She is also distributing invitations to the 2009 survivors reception, and the day of Relay activities June 13 including the inspiring “Survivor’s Lap.” Contact Chris Farrington with any questions regarding these activities at 241-7077, or visit the Newtown Relay website.

‘Beautiful Lengths’

Newtown Relay For Life will again hold a Pantene Beautiful Lengths cut-a-thon to provide free real hair wigs for cancer patients. The cut-a-thon will be sponsored by A New Beginning, an Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Day Spa located on Stony Hill Road in Bethel.

Owner and team captain for A New Beginning Team, Carol St Amand Romer is excited to participate in this year’s Relay. Hair can be donated the day of the Relay from 4 to 5 pm and again from 6 to 8 pm. No appointment is necessary.

A real-hair wig allows a woman to look in the mirror and at least see a familiar face while she fights to regain a sense of normalcy in her life. The American Cancer Society distributes the Pantene Beautiful Lengths real-hair wigs for cancer patients around the nation.

While this program aims to assist as many cancer patients as possible, ultimately the number of free wigs that become available will depend entirely on the number of ponytail donations received. Women facing cancer can find out about the availability of a Pantene Beautiful Lengths wig by calling the American Cancer Society at 877-227-1596.

Requirements for donating hair are:

*Donated hair must be a minimum of 8 inches long (measure hair from just above the elastic band of the ponytail to the ends).

*Wavy/curly hair texture is fine — you may straighten hair to measure.

*Hair should be freshly washed and completely dry, without any styling products.

*Hair may be colored with vegetable dyes, rinses, and semipermanent dyes. It cannot be bleached, permanently colored, or chemically treated.

*Hair may not be more than five percent gray.

For additional information contact Pantene Beautiful Lengths chairperson Terry Stoller via email at tstoller76@charter.net.