Opinion: Why I Relay

I initially relayed because my son's team at needed a chaperone.  I was kind of proud of my ability to stay up all night and walk the track – a real accomplishment for someone 50+ – well worth repeating to anyone who would listen!

And then I had reason to be at North Shore-LIJ on a daily basis, sitting in the waiting room, right near where children from Schneider's Children Hospital, were receiving radiation therapy. I saw exhausted mothers carrying exhausted babies out of  radiation sessions. I heard children behind closed doors screaming in fright of the big machines which were descending upon their tiny bodies. It was heart wrenching, day after day to watch the children. They had not done anything in their young lives to deserve this insidious disease. 

I looked at them and wondered what their future held in store. I hoped that they would be healed and happy but knew that some might not make it to their high school prom. So, I decided, right there, that I had to do something for these children – the children at Schneider's, the children at St. Jude's, the children all over the world who so courageously march into their private battle with cancer.  

I am now a veteran Relay-er and yes, 7 years later, I still stay up all night. I hope the day comes that I will no longer have to Relay and no longer have my "all-nighters" to brag about. I want to see the day that I return to that same waiting room at North Shore-LIJ  and no one is there.

Relay For Life celebrates 11 years in Port on June 16 at Sousa Elementary School. Last year's event attracted more than 350 attendees, 70 teams and raised an impressive $96,000 for vital cancer support services, research and advocacy. Relay for Life offers the Port Washington community a chance to come together to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. 

For more information, log on to: relayforlife.org/portwashingtonny or, contact, Relay for Life 2012 co-Chairs: Lee Anne Vetrone-Timothy, 516/883-4890 (eventmakr@gmail.com) or Nora Johnson, 516/767-0820 (norahjohnson@yahoo.com).

Note: Jessica Wigdor and her team, Moon Walkers are, once again, the #1 Port Relay team in terms of dollars raised for cancer research, support and advocacy. In addition to her team being #1, Jessica is the #1 individual fundraiser for Relay PW 2012. Go Jessica!