Enthusiasm builds for Lewiston Porter Relay

by Karen Keefe and Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 4, 2005

It’s less than a week away now, and planning has kicked into high gear for what’s expected to be Lewiston Porter’s best-ever Relay for Life.

“We’re pretty excited and nervous at the same time,” said Relay co-chair Ona Sherman.

The Relay, an overnight celebration of hope in the never-ending battle against cancer, begins with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. Friday, June 10 at the Blaklee football stadium complex/running track located behind the High School on the Lew-Port campus.

Following opening ceremonies is the Survivors’ Walk, a moving event in which all cancer survivors can participate. This year’s Survivor’s Walk co-chairs are Natalie and Jo Ann Cerminara of Lewiston, both cancer survivors. The symbolic walk around the Lew-Port track celebrates survival over this dreaded disease.

Debbie Bogdan, director of Special Events for the American Cancer Society, said the Lew-Port Relay is one of the oldest and biggest among the 14 held annually in the Western New York area. More than 1,000 participants gathered on a summery evening last year and raised more than $82,000 to benefit cancer research.

The 2005 campaign goal is $100,000 for the American Cancer Society. Organizers are hoping for upwards of 3,000 participants this year. The theme is “Past, Present, Future – Now is the Time for the Cure.” Purple is the theme color, and Lewiston is truly painting the town purple in honor of the event.

Fuccillo Automotive Group is holding a truck raffle for an SSR pickup truck, valued at $45,000 and donated to benefit all the relays in Western New York. “It’s purple and all striped out with the American Cancer Society Relay logo on it,” said Fuccillo representative Mary Dunbar-Dalusio, who is co-chair of the Grand Island Relay for Life, also taking place June 10-11.

Tickets for the truck raffle are $5. For information on ticket sales, which are ongoing, call 1-800-ACS-2345.

There’s still time to register for the relay, said co-chair Stuart Lowe. Registration opens at 3 p.m. on Friday.

The Luminary Ceremony, at 10 p.m., is a big event, Lowe said. People can purchase luminaries for $5 and Hope Candles for $100.

Closing ceremonies will take place at 6 a.m. Saturday. In between, there will be entertainment all night long, including musical groups and activities for the kids, such as face-painting, games and a bounce house.

Lowe said someone from each team traditionally stays on the track throughout the night. Many people walk the track for the entire 12 hours. Lowe, himself, was at the event for 29 hours last year.

Sherman said Bank Night on June 1 gave a strong boost to the effort. “It’s really awesome to have 15 new teams sign up at one time,” Altogether, there are more than 65 teams signed up so far.

Various teams and businesses have fund-raising events planned for the week leading up to the Relay.

A Bucket Brigade runs today, June 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Center Street in Lewiston. This is a chance for people to donate to help in the fight for a cure to cancer, Just look for the Big Purple Dinosaur, Lowe said.

Also, Friday and today, June 4, Villa Fortunata’s at 490 Center Street, is having a fund-raiser called “The Power of Purple.” Proceeds from sale of certain purple menu items will be donated to the Relay. These foods include eggplant and a special berry dessert.

Stars and moons are on sale at various businesses as a fund-raiser.

There also will be fund-raising during the Relay. Different teams will be selling handmade bracelets, key chains and an assortment of items. Food is also a big fund-raising item, so eat hearty for a good cause! There will be cotton candy, baked goods, ice cream and hot dogs for sale.

The team called Cameron’s Barney’s Buddies is having a pig roast by Cloy’s. And Jennepher’s Journey will be selling pizza. Co-chairman Lowe is on this team, which is captained by his sister-in-law, Jennepher Fink. She is a breast cancer survivor who received treatment last year. “She’s doing great,” Lowe said.

There is a sense of fun and determination to the teams’ participation in the fight against cancer. For example, Jennipher’s Journey, in keeping with the theme “Past, Present, Future,” is doing ’70s disco.

In addition, “Our Basket Auction is enormous this year,” Lowe said. An entire room is filled with at least 240 baskets, he said. There will be a public preview of the baskets on Wednesday, June 8 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lewiston Porter Community Resource Center, formerly the Primary Building. It is located on the north end of the Creek Road campus.

The auction takes place Friday, June 10 from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lewiston Porter track behind the high school. The drawing will be at 8:30 p.m., Friday, June 10. You need not be present to win.

The baskets, put together by various teams and businesses, include items built around themes. There are baskets with foods, wines, beach items, games and toys. There are lots of gift certificates, too, Lowe said. There also will be a bake sale at the basket tent.

The entertainment lineup features the Hot Country Liners and the Why Me House Drum Circle, starting the show at around 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sherman said.

Those acts will be followed by the River City Singers. During the Luminary Ceremony, the music will be provided by the Lewiston Porter Select Choir.

Later, the entertainment features Beat Green and karaoke.

Sherman said a lot of strong support is coming from teachers and staff from the Lewiston Porter School District.

Planning for the Relay began last September, and culminates in the event on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11.

“The Relay event is a celebration of all our hard work and the steps we’re taking toward the cure for cancer,” Lowe said. Once a cure is reached, he said, “Our goal will be a celebration of the cure.”

There still are various ways to support the campaign for a cure. People are encouraged to sign up and walk in the relay itself, participate in the Basket Auction, the Fuccillo truck raffle – or simply buy food and items on sale from now through the close of the event.

To make a donation on line, visit the Web site, www.acsevents.org/relay/ny/lewiston.

For more information on the Lew-Port Relay, contact Debbie Bogdan at 689-6981, Ext. 116.