Clear night sets the stage for annual Relay For Life

by Robin M. Woolson
Grand Island Dispatch, June 18, 2004

It was a clear night on Friday, June 11 as walkers took to the track at Grand Island High School for the Relay For Life.

Now in its second year on the Island, the event began with the opening ceremonies and a proclamation from Town Supervisor Peter McMahon. Following the opening ceremonies, about 70 local cancer survivors took the Survivor's Lap around the track. Once that lap was completed, the teams began working their way around the track, relay-style, for the overnight event, raising more than $45,000, so far.

The Relay For Life is a fund-raiser and is designed to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. The event honors cancer patients, survivors and caregivers.

As dusk began to set, luminaries were set up around the track in remembrance of those who have faced cancer.

Co-Chairman Mary Dunbar said she was awestruck with the event.

Teams Increase

"It was just awesome," she said. "We went from 18 teams last year to 64 teams in our second year. That was amazing."

Dunbar said she was also amazed that out of the 64 teams, 25 of them were high school teams.

"To have them be as active (in this) and participating for all the right reasons is a pleasure to know," she said. "How much prouder could you be about them?"

Dunbar said everyone who had been contacted for a "small favor" for this event came through.

"From Linda Tuffilaro for the tables and benches to the Knights of Columbus guys helping out," she said. "It was phenomenal."

She said the turnout was so great because cancer has a mind of its own.

"It doesn't care about the age or race of a person," she explained. "It affects everyone."

Idea Catches On

She was also amazed at the amount of people who turned out and gathered together for such a good cause.

"This money raised is going to be there for patient advocacy, care, research and education," Dunbar said.

American Cancer Society Spokesperson Paul McGee said it was a really nice event.

"There were about 1,000 people participating," he said.

McGee said the idea of Relay For Life seems to be catching on.

"Some people may be intimidated at first when they hear about the Relay For Life and that people are sleeping outside for a night," he said, "but when they get to the event, they fall in love with it. The more people who come, the more people get involved the following year."

Great appreciation

Relay For Life Director Deb Bogdan said the American Cancer Society is appreciative of the support from the community.

"We are especially grateful to the volunteers and their families for all of their hard work to make Relay For Life a reality," she said.

For those who participated in the Relay For Life, the event represented hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that the disease will one day be eliminated.

Since the first Relay For Life was held in 1985 in Tacoma, WA, the event has raised more than $1.3 billion in the fight against cancer.