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By Lisa Moore
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
The American Cancer Society will be holding The Relay For Life, a nationwide fundraising event on May 21 and 22.
Started by Dr. Gordon Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Takoma Washington in 1985, the event is touted as a “party with a cause.” Looking to raise money and awareness for his local American Cancer society branch, Klatt decided to use his love of running to help with the fight against cancer.
In May of 1985, Klatt spent 24 hours running around the track at the University of Puget Sound. He ran more than 83 miles while 300 friends, patients and family members cheered him on and donated money to run with him. He raised an astounding $27,000 that night, proving that one person can really make a difference. Twenty-six years later nearly four million people around the world will participate in 6,200 relay events in 2016.
Locally three towns will cohost a Relay For Life event. Needham, Wellesley and Dedham will host an event at the Newman Elementary School in Needham. The overnight event symbolizes how cancer never sleeps and has become a major fundraising and awareness campaign for the American Cancer Society. Needham has historically dominated the event in terms of participation with 95 percent of the participants hailing from Needham.
In an effort to increase awareness and participation for the event by Wellesley residents, Wellesley High student Oliver Vasconcelles has created the Relay For Life Club at Wellesley High. Motivated to make a difference in the fight against cancer, Oliver and his family got involved in Relay For Life after the death of his grandmother from cancer several years ago. Oliver hopes to tap into the existing rivalry between Wellesley and Needham residents and has put a challenge out to the town to get more involved.
“If we could look for a good cause to have a rivalry, let’s use this opportunity to beat Needham,” he said. “I see the effects of where the money goes and how it affects actual change. For example, money raised has been used to pass a law in Massachusetts raising the minimum age for tanning booths to 18-years-old.
“In addition, money raised has helped to create the Hope Lodge in Jamaica Plain, a free hotel offered to patients and caregivers receiving treatment in Boston. Hope Lodge provides meals for patients and caregivers, provides rides to treatments and medical appointments, and gives them a home away from home while the undergo treatment in Boston.”
The event starts at 4 p.m. on May 21 with a survivor lap and opening ceremonies. At 10 p.m. there is a luminary ceremony honoring those that have lost their fight with cancer and those that are still fighting. The candles light the track and light the way for runners throughout the evening. Teams set up tents and camp out overnight taking turns walking or running around the track, raising awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society. There is food, games and entertainment throughout the evening to help keep the participants going through the event.
For those that ask why they should get involved, a sobering statistic might be the push they need. Statistics show that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, virtually ensuring that everyone will be touched by the effects of cancer, either personally or through a loved one. In New England, nearly 150,000 people will participate at 235 events. Vasconcelles would like that number to grow and has asked the community to rally in support of this important event.
There are many opportunities to get involved. You can start a relay team, join an existing team, volunteer, register for a survivor lap, join the event leadership team or make a donation. Participants do not need to stay for the entire event and can participate for any amount of time they can.
For more information on the event, or how you can get involved, visit www.RelayForLife.org/NDWMA or email Jennifer Braun at JenniferBraun@cancer.org.
Lisa Moore is a Correspondent at Hometown Weekly. She can be reached at news@hometownweekly.net.
