Getting Ready For Relay For Life In Middle Village
We hope to see you all at Juniper Valley Park on June 22 at 4 p.m. That’s when the 2013 Relay for Life, benefitting the American Cancer Society, will take place.
The Relay for Life began in May of 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash., spent 24 hours cycling a track to raise money for his local American Cancer Society office. He raised $27,000 that day as 300 of his friends and family cheered him on.
But then in 1986, he organized the first team relay event which raised $33,000 at the historic Stadium Bowl. Since then, there have been many relay events around the country and the world raising money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.
In June 2003, the Relay for Life began in Middle Village at the track of Juniper Valley Park. We raised $52,036 with 19 teams and 12 survivors. Our five year relay of June 2007, we raised $111,723 with 26 teams and 50 survivors. And our most recent relay, the tenth edition in June 2012, we raised $190,041 with 60 teams and 138 survivors.
Over the years, our local Relay for Life has raised over $1 million and grown every year. We show no signs of stopping until cancer is cured!
So how can you get involved? Here are some things you can do:
– Form a team: Have your friends, family, neighbors, classmates, coworkers etc. join in your team! You can sign up online at relayforlife.org/middlevillageny or the day of the event at the registration tent. There is a $10 fee per person to join and a team can be a max of 15 people. Some team names we have had over the years include “Stride Rites,” “Hot Steppers,” “Goonies,” “Hikers of Hope,” “One 4 All” and many others. Be creative in choosing your name and team theme song.
– Join an existing team: If you don’t want to form your own team, no problem! There are lots of teams out there that are willing to take you on as one of their own. Our committee will help you find a team for the day.- Contribute: Can’t make the event? Out of town or don’t live in the area? No problem! You can still make a donation to the event in general, to a team or to a participant. Just check our website above for a current list of teams and participants. You can donate via check or credit card and even mail your donation to the local Cancer Society office. The offline donation option is seen on a participants donation page.
– Become an All-Star: When you raise $2,500 or more, you are a Relay for Life All-Star. There are various levels of individual fund raising, each with their own incentive based prizes. Raise $100 or more as an individual to get a Relay for Life T-Shirt. More information about incentive prize levels is available on our website.
– Dedicate a luminaria: Each year, we have thousands of luminaria bags dedicated to loved ones, friends, neighbors etc who lost their battle with cancer. Last year, we lit over 3,000 bags around the track. There is also the reading of the names on the bags for each one dedicated.
– Get your local businesses involved:
Ask your local businesses to be a sponsor of this event. We have many brochures available with this information. This allows the businesses to have their logo on t-shirts, the website, the event program and other items. There are different levels of sponsorship and with each higher level, the business has more visibility.
– Follow us on Facebook: Please go to facebook.com/relayforlifemiddlevillage to stay informed of the latest news and updates to this event as well as view past photos and share stories.
The Relay for Life this year is June 22-23 beginning 4 p.m. on the 22nd at Juniper Valley Park (track area). We hope to see you there as a participant or sponsor. Do not hesitate to email me any questions you have at alex.maureau@gmail.com.
Editor’s note: Alex Maureau is one of the organizers of the Middle Village Relay for Life.
