More than 400 volunteers, supporters, and cancer survivors joined for the 10th Annual Relay for Life event Saturday at Charlotte Amalie High School. The yearly event takes place to raise money for cancer research, but is also an opportunity to raise awareness and remember those who won and lost in the fight against cancer.
Local schools and businesses set-up roughly 30 tents with at least 15 volunteers each. The organization hoped that every volunteer would raise a minimum of $1,500 and continue to collect donations throughout the event. The tents are designed around a theme which reflects activities within the tent. All proceeds collected at the tents and donations made before the event go directly to the American Cancer Society.
Those present wore different color shirts to indicate their role in the event. Aqua shirts represented volunteers. White shirts indicated that the person paid an entrance fee to support the cause. Yellow means that the person is with a team. Purple shirts are worn by cancer survivors.
The relay began at 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and will continue until 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Volunteers are not required to walk the whole time or even to stay awake throughout the night, but one person from each team should be participating at all times. Throughout the night, there will be a series of activities on the track and on the field to keep the participants motivated. Bands and DJs will provide entertainment during the event.
“Being here is a passion. It’s not easy, but year after year we come again,” event chairman Roy Benjamin said during the opening ceremonies.
The 2011 event is a bit smaller than those that came before since St. John developed its own Relay for Life organization this year. Although each island now holds a relay event, public relations representative Kenneth A. Christopher notes, “We keep the proceeds in one basket. Everybody helps everybody else.”
Organizers started to set-up for the event early Saturday morning and do not plan to leave until well into Sunday evening. Despite cloudy skies, ovarian cancer survivor and event treasurer Sandra M. Benjamin noted that the event will continue as planned, and she expects more supporters to trickle in as an event closes in St. John this evening.
Leo Falmon, a native of Chicago, walked with his brother, a member of the VI Police Department. Falmon is a first year survivor of prostate cancer, but he notes that the fight goes on.
“It’s forever for me, even when it’s beatable,” Falmon said.
Falmon remembered that the process was miserable, but he is extremely thankful that he caught his cancer in its early stages. He encourages adults to have routine tests because the earlier cancer is detected, the better chance patients have for successful treatment.
During an awards ceremony Sunday morning, individuals will receive awards for games and activities held throughout the night, while groups will be recognized for money raised and best tent decorations. Activities director Rose Maduro is responsible for organizing the awards ceremony as well as all of the games and entertainment that will take place during the night. Maduro lost her grandfather to lung cancer years ago, and her stepfather was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
“Each lap that we make, we add more birthdays and more survivors,” said Delegate Donna Christensen. “Let’s end cancer in our day.”
