Every year on the first weekend in June, our community gathers together in solidarity with one thought in mind; Let's End Cancer! Hundreds of participants and even more community members will flood the high school track and field to hear messages from brave survivors. They will witness trials and tribulations; fundraisers and fun; joy and sorrow; all in the name of finding a cure. There are Bouncy houses, games of tag, amazing bands like Split Decision and Paralyzed Love. A great speaker from Sloan Kettering Hospital and a survivor that will move you beyond words. Our Luminaria ceremony coupled with a beautiful bagpipe tribute will be one of the highlights of the event. The entertainment is endless, the activities numerous and the teams all have amazing fundraisers planned including face painting, Henna, a dunk tank and handmade hats! Anyone who has been to our Relay For Life Event knows we can throw one heck of a shindig and it is definitely not to be missed.
A question still lingers; Why do people join the Relay for Life movement every year and continuously raise money and awareness? There is no simple answer. Some people sign up to honor the memory of a loved one, some join with a survivor to show the world cancer will not win. Still some, like myself, decide to join despite not being a caregiver, a survivor or having one particularly difficult cancer story in their life. My Entire family has been touched by cancer in some way, as it has most people. Great people have fought, some have passed on and so many lives have been altered. Unlike my mother, who relays for her grandmother, I have no direct link. So, why?
There is one simple response: I relay because somewhere someone else cannot. 10’s of thousands of people will have to hear the words “you have cancer” TODAY. Some people will have months to live, others will fight for years for their health. Loved ones will have to watch their family members struggle and suffer while fighting for their lives. I walk so that someone’s child, friend, sister, brother, mother, father, grandparent (you get the picture) will get treatment, a place to stay, a ride, a wig and anything else they need while they fight. I cannot find a cure or drive every patient to and from their treatment. We cannot always sit and hold their hands and give them hope. Through Relay For Life we are given the opportunity to do just that. Every dollar raised and every flyer handed out not only provides much needed awareness and funds for such programs but it gives people and patients the much needed hope to push through another day.
It is also for that reason that our Relay For Life Event stays open through the night for registered participants. We believe that our events, unique as they are, are a testimony to the vitality of hope. Hope screams and cheers during opening ceremony when survivors and caregivers are celebrated and the community comes together in droves. Hope is excited and optimistic when the day wears on, the fundraisers raise funds and the games are in full effect. Hope holds us close at 9 during the Luminaria Ceremony and silent lap in memory of our loved ones. Hope is quietly pushing us at 1am when the public has gone, some teams went home and it starts to get chilly. Hope is dragging us along at 3am when musical chairs is winding down and we are all exhausted from one person on each team walking straight through from 3 pm. Finally, Hope is alive and jumps for joy at 5 am when we close our event with a ceremony of strength, reminding us all that stayed that through the struggles there is always hope.
If you are interested in joining Relay For Life of New Fairfield, coming to our event on June 1st, or making a donation, feel free to contact us at Relay4lifenf@gmail.com If you are a survivor OR a caregiver please know you are also welcome to attend any of our survivor and caregiver committee events, free of charge! (May 4th is our annual BBQ and June 1st we have our spectacular Luncheon!) WE ARE LOOKING FOR DAY OF VOLUNTEERS! If you want to get your feet wet in volunteering check out or link and sign up for a shift! https://goo.gl/Esibp6