Relay For Life kick-off breakfast Saturday at Water Street Landing

by Terry Duffy

Relay For Life of Lewiston/Niagara invites the community to join for a complimentary breakfast, Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at Water Street Landing in Lewiston to kick off plans for the 2013 Relay.

"Everyone is welcome to join us for a complimentary breakfast at Water Street Landing to celebrate a terrific 2012 Relay and kick off a brand-new year for 2013," says Lewiston/Niagara Relay spokesperson Tami Gabri, director of special events at the American Cancer Society. "We'll be launching our 2013 theme, 'Camp Out for a Cure,' as well as discussing all the changes so we can 'Relay Big' this year!"

Gabri says that leading the news on this year's Lewiston/Niagara Relay is a new date and change of venue. Held in past years in mid-June on the high school track at the Lewiston-Porter campus, and a one-year stint at Academy Park in Lewiston, the 16th Lewiston/Niagara Relay will take place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3 and 4, at Reservoir State Park. The event will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday and continue overnight until 6 a.m. Sunday at the recently renovated state park located on Military Road bordering Lewiston and the Town of Niagara.

"Relay For Life provides everyone an opportunity to join the fight against cancer. Form a team, or just stop by to honor and remember your loved ones who have been touched by cancer," says Gabri. "Teams camp out all day and night to take turns walking the track and enjoying activities and entertainment throughout the day in this carnival-like atmosphere."

She reports the breakfast program will detail more on the August event and provide a time for organizing among the Lewiston/Niagara Relay's many teams and volunteers.

Awards will also presented Saturday to a number of teams and volunteers who helped make the 2012 Lewiston/Niagara Relay the success that it was. The Relay included 278 participants and 31 teams on hand, with more than $73,000 raised. "So many thanks to some amazing volunteers," says Gabri. "The Lewiston-Niagara community has come together for the last 15 years to raise over $1 million for the American Cancer Society."

Gabri reports that 2012 awards will be presented to the following: Air Force Junior ROTC Church Mice, Guard Contracting Corp., Jensen Angels, Kalfas Magnet School, Krug, Leaves of Lorien, Lewiston Family Dental, Lewiston Service Guild, Lewiston-Porter High School faculty and staff, Maureen Castiglione, Pamela Barber, Rays of Hope - Lewiston-Porter Primary, Steps of Hope, Team Hope, team Hope and Faith, and Team MaMaMoe.

For more information, visit, http://RelayForLife.org/LewistonNY.