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Relay is raring to go and set for success by Karen Keefe
The Relay For Life is a little more than two months away, but Co-chairman Mary Dunbar–Daluisio is already in high gear, excited about the prospects for what she calls “the second-biggest event on Grand Island after the Fourth of July Parade.” The Relay is a celebration of hope, embracing the American Cancer Society’s lofty goal to eliminate the disease of cancer by the year 2015. On Friday, June 8, Islanders of all ages will gather at the track behind Grand Island High School to show their support for cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones. Survivors’ Lap Sets Tone Daluisio, a cancer survivor herself, has received some very good news recently. Her doctor says she is tumor-free, after being diagnosed in 2005. She understands in a very personal way how families are touched by this disease. “We do this because we want to eliminate the suffering that cancer patients and their families go through. So it is so much our fight to take up,” she explains. “This is a personal invitation to any survivor to please come and celebrate this with us on that first lap on Friday night.” She says “survivors will gain strength from that support.” Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m. This year’s honorary survivor is Beth Dommer, a bus driver for the Grand Island School District, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990. She says that, after cancer, she looks at life with a different view. “Take time each day to say ‘thank you’ for your life.” The town is kicking off the Relay season with its “Paint the Town Purple” campaign. Purple is the official Relay color and a way to spread the message of hope in communities across the state. The Town Center will be decorated on Saturday, April 28, starting at 9 a.m. Bows will be for sale at HSBC Bank, 2300 Grand Island Blvd.; Tops, 2140 Grand Island Blvd; and Tim Horton’s, 1685 Grand Island Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Saturday. Free pieces of ribbon are also available at DeSignet Jewelry Store, 1871 Whitehaven Road. Residents are encouraged to get in the spirit by hanging purple ribbons on trees in their yards and placing purple stickers on cars and home windows. Other ideas: Wear purple clothing to work or bring purple balloons to the office. Relay teams can download flyers and posters to help publicize their fund-raising events, at www.acsevents.org.
50 Teams Registered “Over 50 teams are registered already,” Daluisio said. In its fifth year, the Relay has captured the hearts of the community. Being there, you feel the spirit of courage and caring. Whether it’s sunny, or blustery, cold and damp, as it was in 2006, the crowd is feeling the warmth of many hearts and souls dedicated to a great cause. This year, the Town of Grand Island has a very active team. A chicken barbecue, sponsored by Team Lifesavers, is taking place from 2 to7 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, at the Town Hall Town Common. Drive-up service will be available. Between now and June 8, the calendar is dotted with dozens of events to raise Relay funds. For additional information on some of these, see page 26. Last year, Grand Island’s Relay exceeded its fund-raising expectations. “I was asked, after raising $110,000, what would our goal be for this year,” Daluisio said. “I believe everybody sacrifices for this dreaded disease. It’s hard to think about having a goal. What everybody does is just such a powerful statement from our wonderful community,” she said. “So the committee decided that we will always be called ‘the Island of Hope’ and we’ll just change the (annual) theme.” This year’s theme is “Go Retro for a Cure.” It’s hard not to notice that people get into some pretty weird, wacky and wonderful costumes for the Relay. Teams dress up as dancers, cartoon and movie characters – whatever motivates them to have fun and fund-raise. Polka Dot Chix Return “I especially like the Polka Dot Chix,” Daluisio says, explaining their motto, “Once the dots are connected, the cure will be found.” Team Captain Alicia Sommer, a Grand Island High School junior, was last year’s honorary survivor. They have an ambitious fund-raising goal, and will be setting up all over Grand Island this month in their efforts to sell 10,000 candy bars – one for each child who will be diagnosed this year, Sommer says, “We hope that you show us your support on the following days and locations:” •Friday, April 20, at The First Niagara Bank from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. •Saturday, April 21, at Tops from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. •Friday, April 27, at HSBC Bank from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. •At the Boulevard Mall on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Grand Island’s Largest Piggy Bank will also be making an appearance with “an empty tummy,” Sommer says. On her e-mails, she includes the inspirational phrase: “Great and miraculous things happen when people come together with an intention to create hope and possibilities.” Also, the Relay team Everyday Super Heroes will hold a baked goods sale on Saturday, April 21, beginning at 9 a.m. at HSBC Bank on Baseline Road. A team captains meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. in the Grand Island High School Cafeteria. Candles of Hope, Luminaria Many people support the Relay For Life by purchasing a Candle of Hope, or Luminaria, on behalf of someone who has battled cancer. The candles are $100 and the Luminaria are $5. Each light, laid out alongside the track and burning through the night, commemorates a treasured relationship, lighting a path of hope. Arlene Larry is the Luminaria chair for the Grand Island Relay. For questions about purchasing a Luminaria, contact her at 773-3039. Daluisio points out that John Stickl and Ted Weselak will again be forming a prayer team to support cancer patients, survivors and anyone who is affiliated with them. The prayer team is non-denominational and has been a feature of every Grand Island Relay. Daluisio said, as a survivor, the Relay and the support of the community are so important. “It’s very wonderful that I have the support of the American Cancer Society and all my friends and the community. Thank you for everyone’s prayers and thoughts, because I’m sure that strength adds to my strength and outcome.”
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