One of several Relay for Life bake sales
May 21, 2010
by Rose Schrott
The Third Annual Chappaqua Relay for Life will take place this Saturday, May 22, at Horace Greeley High School. The opening ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m., which will include guest speakers, Relay Awards and the Cancer Survivor Lap. The community is invited to attend to remember those lost to cancer, celebrate their lives and those victorious over cancer, and to help fight back against cancer.
The guest speakers this year are Megan and Emma Goodman, who lost both of their grandparents to cancer; Austin Gellis, who lost his father to cancer last year; and Alix and Kayle Birdoff, whose father is a cancer survivor.
The Relay Awards are given both at the opening ceremonies and the closing ceremonies. These awards are a way to acknowledge everyone’s hard work throughout this process. Awards given out at the opening ceremonies include the Rookie Relayer, who is the newest participant who has raised the most money. The relay all-star awards are given to participants who have raised over $2500 as well as the top three fundraising teams.
At the closing ceremonies, we announce our grand total and make the fun awards, for example, to the teams who stayed up and had the most people on the track the whole night and to the people who walked the most laps. We want everyone to feel recognized in one way or another to commend them for what they’ve done.
Large turnout of volunteers is generating great donations
This year, over 500 volunteers will be participating in Chappaqua’s Relay for Life on 58 teams. They began fundraising for this event in January, collecting pledges and conducting bake sales. So far they have raised over $100,000. If you would like to donate, or find out more about the event and event activities, go to www.relayforlife.org/chappaquany.
The breathtaking Luminaria Ceremony will take place at 9:30 p.m. The lights on the field will be turned off and paper bags that line the track will be illuminated. On each bag is the name of someone who has passed away from or survived cancer. Several speakers will share their experiences battling cancer. Then everyone will take a silent lap around the track in recognition of the people whose lives have been affected by cancer. Two of the singing groups from Greeley, The Enchords and the Madrigal Choir, will perform to enhance the ceremony.
The Survivor Dinner, which is by invitation only, is again being generously donated by Villarina’s.
Please join us and CELEBRATE, REMEMBER, AND FIGHT BACK!
Rose Schrott is the Event Chair of Chappaqua Relay for Life.
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