Last Thursday evening, the ballroom at Orient Heights Yacht Club hosted a planning meeting for the neighborhood’s third annual Relay for Life, a major fundraising initiative of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Attendees included residents from Chelsea, East Boston and neighboring areas—some cancer survivors, some volunteers, all united by a shared purpose. “It’s so great that so many people will come forward and work towards the same cause of finding a cure for cancer,” remarked ACS Community Executive Matthew Blom during the gathering. “I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting people from involved.”
The overnight Relay for Life event aims to mobilize the region to honor survivors (defined as anyone ever diagnosed with cancer), pay tribute to those lost to the disease, and generate funds for cancer research and treatment. According to Blom, “Relay For Life is an awareness raiser about the progress against cancer as much as it is a fundraiser. Individuals who are willing to give their time and energy to this exciting event as a volunteer or participant have made a commitment to fight back against this disease that has touched too many lives.”
The meeting represented the first in a series of planning sessions designed to energize the Relay for Life committee as preparations begin for the event scheduled for Friday, June 17 through Saturday, June 18 at East Boston Stadium. Organizers are actively recruiting additional volunteers and residents to contribute to the event’s success. “We are hoping to draw people from East Boston and the surrounding areas,” Blom stated. “If we get a tight knit group it can make for a really unique event.”
Participating teams, ranging from eight to 15 members, will camp at the Stadium with tents and sleeping bags over the two-day period, joining nearly 5,000 communities nationwide that sponsor similar Relays. Team members will rotate walking around the Stadium’s track throughout a 12 to 24 hour span. “Relay For Life brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, religious groups…people from all walks of life,” Blom explained. “Teams seek sponsorship prior to the Relay, all with the goal of raising money to help eliminate cancer.”
Those interested in forming a team or learning about upcoming meetings can visit www.eastbostonrelay.org. The previous year’s event proved remarkably successful, raising over $60,000 for ACS while creating a powerful blend of remembrance and inspiration. Participants honored those lost to cancer while celebrating survivors in an atmosphere of hope and determination. This year’s walkers are encouraged to set personal fundraising targets of $100 or more. “The ACS and local relay committee have dozens of ideas for quick and simple ways to meet your personal goal,” said Relay spokesperson Celeste Myers. “There’s still plenty of time to get involved. The 2010 event was hugely successful with over 30 teams participating in the night-long walk.”