Relay for Life in Astoria Park

More than 300 people gathered recently at Astoria Park to raise money for the American Cancer Society (ACS). By the end of the Relay for Life overnight event, held on Saturday, June 2, organizers tallied funds raised at $65,000 with more donations still pouring in.
Top fundraising teams - Elena Karabelas’ “Oulas” and Annette Breen’s “Crusaders,” - brought in more than $12,800 and $10,200 respectively.
Ranked third was Danielle Mahoney’s 15-person group, “Seeds of Love,” which raised more than $6,400 for cancer research.
“When we thought of cancer awareness, we thought of the new generation, of them planting seeds of love for the future,” Astoria resident Maloney said, while toting around her five-month-old nephew, Dylan Collado, during the event.
Mahoney’s crew also formed the teams - “Seeds of Love 2” and “Seeds of Love 3” - that raised $1,300 and $4,900 respectively.
“After tonight, it could be more,” Mahoney said.
Starting the event were cancer survivors Astoria resident Steve George, 77, and Jackson Heights resident Eileen Patsurakis, 54. George beat prostate cancer six years ago, and Patsurakis suffered from skin cancer on her face and almost lost her eye. Both survivors said that they came out to the relay to show support for cancer patients and as a thank you to their family and friends who provided them with support throughout their illness.
“Cancer affects everyone,” said ACS spokesperson Keith Hudson. “For many patients, their support group is the most important for someone going through cancer.”
Hudson emphasized the importance of the Relay for Life events not only to raise money for research but as a community event to raise awareness and show local residents that getting a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily death sentence.
“When someone found out they had cancer 10, 20 years ago, those people didn’t have hope,” Hudson said.