Westside, Richfield Relay For Life both coming up
By Holly Pupino
COPLEY/RICHFIELD — There’s a new kid on the block.
The American Cancer Society’s Westside Relay For Life, set for June 15-16 at Copley High School, is one of the oldest relays in Ohio. The same weekend marks the debut of the Richfield Relay For Life at Richfield Woods Park June 16-17.
Time it right and you can attend
both events, which raise funds for cancer research and
advocacy, honor cancer victims and survivors, and generate
awareness for cancer prevention.
Having a Relay For Life in her
own community has been a dream of Deb Lane, of Richfield.
Lane has volunteered at the Westside Relay for several
years and has been touched by cancer personally. Her
mother, mother-in-law, aunt and grandparents have faced
cancer.
“The American Cancer Society
has been asking for more community-based relays, so
we thought it was time to step up,” said Lane.
“We were hoping to have 10 teams participate our
first year, and we now already have close to 20.”
Richfield Woods, located on Broadview
Road, three blocks north of Streetsboro Road, is a versatile
setting for a Relay For Life. The park features ballparks,
a lake, playground and hiking trails. Event organizers
are using purple duct tape to mark off the path for
the walkers, as the park does not have a track.
“We are also looking into
having luminarias float on the lake,” said Lane.
“I think the natural environment will make this
a lovely and very reflective relay.”
According to Penny Thomas, income
development coordinator for
the American Cancer Society, the goal for the Richfield
Relay is $30,000. Activities will run from 9 a.m. Saturday
to 9 a.m. Sunday.
The perennial Westside Relay
For Life is already off to a great start in reaching
its $160,000 goal thanks to the children and staff of
Herberich Primary School in Fairlawn. The school hosted
its own “mini-relay” in mid-May, raising
$7,000.
“They did a phenomenal
job,” said Victoria Lisowski, income development
coordinator for the American Cancer Society. “We
saw by the number of raised hands that a large number
of the kids had a friend or loved one touched by cancer.”
Once again, large corporate sponsors
such as Sterling Corp., Summa Health System, InfoCision,
Best Buy and Sherwin-Williams will sponsor teams, set
up tents and keep members walking round the clock at
the Westside Relay.
The Westside Relay will run from
4: 30 p.m. Friday until noon Saturday. Entertainment
will include music by Movin’ and Groovin’
Productions, a performance
by students attending the Copley-Fairlawn Summer Band
Camp, a treasure hunt, talent show, games and themed
laps. A victory lap by cancer survivors is set for 6:15
p.m., and the somber lighting of luminarias will take
place at 9:30 p.m.
To get involved, join a team
or make a donation, visit www.
acsevents.org/relay/oh/westside sum
(Westside Relay) and www.acsevents.org/relay/oh/
Richfield (Richfield
Relay).
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