Community Corner

Perfect Weather for 16th Annual Relay for Life in Westerly

Today, Friday June 21 through Saturday June 22 at the Westerly High School Track

The Relay For Life of Westerly is celebrating its 16th anniversary on Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22, 2013 at the Westerly High School Track.  The 18-hour celebration is the culmination of months of hard work by the Relay For Life of Westerly planning committee and teams comprised of friends, families and co-workers.

Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities across the United States, gather to take part in the global phenomenon known as Relay For Life (a fundraising event to benefit the American Cancer Society) to raise much-needed funds and awareness for cancer research.  Historically, the Relay For Life movement raises more than $400 million yearly. The American Cancer Society puts these donations to work, investing in groundbreaking research in every type of cancer and providing free information and services to cancer patients and their caregivers. 

One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.  According to the American Cancer Society website, more than one million people in the United States are diagnosed cancer each year.  Thanks in part to the American Cancer Society and fundraisers such as Relay For Life, two in every three people diagnosed with cancer today survive at least 5 years.  That is why we and our community “Relay.”

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Relay For Life is more than just a fundraiser; it has become an institution in Westerly and a staple of the summer events calendar.  Over the past 16 years, Westerly’s Relay For Life event has raised close to $3 million and has united thousands of people to help find a cure for cancer.  This year’s event is co-chaired by Jessica Almeida and Shelly McGlinsey and supported by a planning committee that has worked to make the 16th Anniversary the most memorable year and raise awareness in the community, holding true to this year’s theme: “Pack the Track.”

Relay For Life will open at 1:00 pm when teams can begin to set-up their campsites.  This year’s campsite theme is “Make Cancer Walk the Plank” focusing on pirates and buccaneers.  Prizes will be awarded to the most spirited campsite.  Cancer survivors will judge campsites.  To be eligible to win, one person from your team must be walking around the track throughout the entire Relay.  The Relay will begin at 4:00 pm when teams will being to walk the track, each lap remembering loved ones who are have fought, are fighting, or have lost their battle with cancer. 

The survivor reception will begin at 5:00 pm.  This is where survivors and their caregivers can come to enjoy food and small gifts.

The night is filled with entertainment for all, including special appearances by WPRI Fox Providence, Radio ROXY 100.9, 1230 WBLQ, Simply Enchanted, Jay the DJ, a performance of “Thrift Shop” live by Unexpectedd, a performance by the band Jeff Byrd & Dirty Finch, demonstrations including Black Bear Traditional Martial Arts, Miss Michelle’s Dance School, Brickhouse Cardio Club Zumba!, Northeast Karate, Body Sculpting by Trish from the Westerly YMCA, as well as themed laps, children’s activities, and the traditional opening and closing ceremonies. The themed laps include kid’s trick or treat lap, purple pirates glow stick lap, slumber party lap, and neon/day-glo lap.

Opening Ceremonies will begin at 6:00 pm.  Following Opening Ceremonies, the Courage Award will be presented, immediately followed by a victory lap for survivors and caregivers.  Each year the Relay For Life of Westerly presents the Courage Award to one recipient recognizing them as a survivor who has triumphed over cancer, made significant contributions to disease control and impacts the lives of others. The Courage Award recipient symbolizes strength, courage and hope to all cancer survivors.  Nominations for the Courage Award are submitted to the Relay committee in the form of essays.

At 9:30 pm the Luminaria ceremony will take place and be immediately followed by candlelight and silent laps until 10:30 pm.  Luminaria can be purchased in advance by visiting www.westerlyrelay.org or the day of the event in the main tent. 

An important note:  this year, the hair-cutting ceremony will take place on Saturday morning at 8:30 am.  In the past years the ceremony has taken place the Friday night of Relay.

Closing ceremonies will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday, June 22nd.

For more information about Relay For Life, to join or form a team or make a donation please visit www.westerlyrelay.org or find us on Facebook: Westerly Relay for Life.

 

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American Cancer Society: Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s national signature event and is as much an awareness-raiser as it is a fundraiser. This family-oriented team event brings participants from all parts of the community together in a “celebration of life.” Businesses, civic clubs, religious groups, friends, and families take turns walking in relay fashion while they also celebrate the critical role the American Cancer Society plays in the fight against cancer.

 

Thousands of local residents have attended the event throughout the past fourteen years.  Nearly $3 million has been raised for the American Cancer Society’s research and patient services.

 


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