Hundreds Drawn to "Relay for Life" in Community Park Despite Drizzle

Now is your chance to donate in a local, convenient way to the American Cancer Society or even participate in the "Relay for Life" fundraiser that started at 3 p.m. Saturday and runs through dawn on Sunday at Community Park.

Volunteers are running Relay for Life, one of many Relay for Life fundraisers held all over the world that sends all proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

From 5 to 7 p.m., there was a reception for cancer survivors, which was followed by an opening ceremony at 7 p.m.

There is another ceremony scheduled for 9:30 p.m., said Katrina Salvatoriello, a volunteer co-chair and borough resident, who was wearing an orange T-shirt that says "Celebrate and Remember. Fight Back."

Luminaries, which are lights that will be placed on the ground lining the walkway around the park's perimeter, will be sold for $5 each.

Organizers have been planning the event for many months, with teams all over the borough getting donations from area residents and businesses.

But more donations are needed to help the American Cancer Society prevent, detect and treat cancer, said Salvatoriello.

"Every little bit helps," she said, at the park today as she and other volunteers were setting up. "We're accepting donations for this event through August.'

"We're hoping people come to make donations or even to register to participate, it's not too late," she added.

Bradley Bennett, the American Cancer Society staff partner for the local Relay for Life, said all cancer survivors are welcome to the survivors' dinner with a guest.

"Then at our opening ceremonies, we also honor our survivors by giving them a nice medallion and ask them to start off our relay by walking the first lap," Bennett said. "After that, we have our participants, in teams, walk the track throughout the entire evening.

"We ask one person from each team to stay on the track at all times and our event goes overnight," he said. "Just like cancer never sleeps, for one night as a community all of us will not sleep.

"To help keep people motivated and energized we will have some great entertainment and activities all night long," Bennett said.

Bands will perform, but only until 10 p. m. There will also be "games, fun-themed laps for teams to participate in and some moving and motivational ceremonies," he said.

"At dawn, we will announce our total raised so far and all of that money raised goes to the American Cancer Society for its research, advocacy, education, and patient and family services," Bennett said.