Community Corner
Port Supports Relay for Life
Residents walk all night to raise money to fight cancer with the ninth straight year.
Sousa Elementary School's field was covered with tents and swarms of people earlier this month as more than 500 Port Washington residents took part in its 9th annual Relay for Life fundraiser. The Relay, an initiative from the American Cancer Society, is an all night event where teams and individuals walk around a track bordered giving members of communities around the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.
"This is the oldest running Relay for Life in Nassau County," said Port Washington School District Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey Gordon while expressing his pride in Port Washington's commitment to this event.
Over half the participants were Schreiber High School students, including the leading individual fundraiser, Jordan Sutton. Sutton raised $9,434 for the fight against cancer, bringing his total over the past four years to $50,000. The highest team fundraiser was the Moon Walkers who raised a total of $15,534. Other top team fundraisers were Black Out ($9,434), Team Lebowski ($9,360), Friends of Jackie ($8,000) and 4 R Mommas & Poppas ($7,320). Top participants included Jessica Wigdor ($8,581), Ila Scheckner ($8,085), Harold Spielman ($8,000), and Anthony Ioanna ($5,350).
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The event, which raised $110,000 for this worthy cause, began at 5:30 p.m. with activities for children including face painting and candy necklace making. Also at 5:30 p.m. was the Survivor/Caregiver Dinner which took place in the school's cafeteria which was decorated with inspirational posters from a Sousa-based fourth-grade Girl Scout troop. Music was provided by Schreiber High School senior Solomon Hoffman and friends, and an invocation was performed by interfaith minister, Reverend Deidre Breen-Bernstein.
At 7 p.m., the Relay for Life officially began its opening ceremony. A color guard from the Port Washington Fire Department, made up entirely of cancer survivors, marched out in uniform. Patti Atkins sang a moving acapella rendition of the National Anthem.
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New York State State Senator Craig Johnson, who lost his mother and both grandmothers to the disease, spoke of his work in Albany to enact laws to help people fight cancer, and to live better lives.
"I can't believe it's been 10 years since I lost my mother, Barbara Johnson, to breast cancer," Johnson said. "We're working on laws that will make insurance companies pay for breast reconstruction for women who've had breast cancer. We're fighting the insurance companies to make sure people are covered."
Guest speaker Judy Goodstein, a trial attorney, spoke about her personal battle with breast cancer and how she persevered, and then she, along with the other cancer survivors took the first lap of the event – the Survivor's Lap – around the track. This was followed by a lap with caregivers, and finally everyone in attendance.
"I'm doing this because cancer has affected so many people I know and love," said Jane Marron, a Schreiber sophomore. "My grandmother had cancer, so this is very personal for me."
At 9 p.m., the luminaria lighting ceremony began with a speech by Matthew Timothy who lost both of his parents to cancer. This was followed by a lap done in total silence to remember those who died from the disease. Afterwards, team captains lit the luminaria – bags with candles inside, each bag bearing the name of someone who was remembered.
The Relay for Life went on through the night with entertainment from two bands (Only One Joe and The Outliers), contests, raffles, and a late night barbecue cooked up by members of the Port Washington Fire Department.
First time event co-chairs, Nora Johnson and Lee Anne Vetrone-Timothy, said they were thrilled by the turnout and response."We are moved, but not surprised, by the spirit, commitment and generosity that made this year's Relay a huge success," Vetrone-Timothy said. "Port is such a vibrant, dedicated and giving community, it makes sense that our Relay will continue going strong into its tenth year!"
Paul Gruol, Director of Special Events for the American Cancer Society and emcee at the Relay, said this event is very close to his heart.
"The Port Washington Relay is very special for me because of my wife Maria's 11-and-a-half year struggle with breast cancer," Gruol said. "The many friends I have been very fortunate to make here the last four years as we worked together on Relay help me cope as they understood as caregivers themselves what I was experiencing. When my wife passed away almost 23 months ago, it was some of these same people who came to give their sympathy to my two daughters and I. It is like this with almost everyone I have had the pleasure to befriend through Relay."
The date for next year's event will be released soon, but will most likely occur, as the past nine Relays, in late June.
"For me, and so many like me, Relay helps in the healing process and gives you the opportunity to fight back even when you did not know how," Gruol added. "The Relay For Life in Port Washington is very special to me because these wonderful people gave me hope and allow me to give hope to others."
