20th Greater Westerly Relay for Life set for June 23-24 and announces its 2017 Courage Award Recipient

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Greater Westerly’s is set for Friday, June 23 with opening ceremonies at 6pm. To date, over 30 teams have signed up, as members of each team walk the Westerly High School Quad throughout the night until 7am, honoring loved ones that have survived or passed from cancer. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest and most impactful fundraising event to end cancer. Over the last 19 years, thousands of local residents have participated in the Westerly Relay raising over $3 million dollars towards cancer research and supporting a variety of programs run by the American Cancer Society.

After the opening ceremonies, there will be the presentation of the Courage Award. The Courage Award recognizes a local person who is currently fighting cancer or a cancer survivor who has triumphed over cancer, along with making significant contributions to cancer control and has impacted the lives of others. Every Courage Award recipient symbolizes the courageous struggle that all cancer patients endure, from the physical to emotional aspects of their experience with the disease.

This year, the Greater Westerly Relay for Life is proud to announce that Pat Rychlec of Westerly will be recipient. For more than a decade, Pat has been involved with the Westerly Relay, sometimes organizing multiple teams for her local church, always sleeping outside, always fundraising, and always walking. Not only has she been a supporter of Relay, but she can always be counted on at other local events and fundraisers along with being a prominent fixture at her church, and always treats her friends like family. The day before Mother's Day in 2016, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Pat’s nomination includes “My mom is the most giving, selfless, and kind person I know and cancer has not taken that away. She still shows up. She has given other people rides to medical appointments while she is out of work.” She’s this year’s representative for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and over the past year, she has called and emailed government officials as part of the ACS Cancer Action Network to help all people with cancer have access to care and a chance for a cure. Her nomination notes “Not only has she had the courage to fight her own cancer, but she has also taken that fight and continued to stand up for others.”

Following the Courage Award, the Relay will begin with a survivor lap, caretaker lap, then at least one member from each team will begin their journey of walking the Westerly High School Quad for the rest of the night. There will be a reception for survivors signed up will be in the Survivor Tent. There will also be a Mission tent and more American Cancer Society information available to anyone interested.

For the 20th year, the Greater Westerly Relay for Life will host free activities open to the community. The events committee invites people to come support friends that are participating, and the night will also be filled with fun activities and entertainment for families. There will be performances by the Chariho High School Chorus, Miss Michele’s L’Ecole de Danse, along with demos by Shield Martial Arts and East Coast Karate. There will also be clowns and magic tricks plus balloon animals for the kids. Also enjoy a tasty treat from a variety of food trucks featuring pizza, hot dogs, fun desserts and more. There will also be the popular hair cutting, where people who have grown their hair out donate it for the cause, which will start at 8pm.

This event is generously sponsored by: Valenti Toyota, Westerly Community Credit Union, South County Health, McQuades Marketplace, Ortho Rhode Island, Washington Trust Company, Westerly Hospital, McQuades Pharmacy, Tasca Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, United Builders Supply Co., Inc, Perks & Corks, CT Community Credit Union, Seaside Pharmacy, Schilke Realty, Westerly Dental Group, Webster Bank, Premier Physical Therapy, Soundview Orthopaedic Associates, LLP, The Westerly Sun, The New London Day, 102.3 The Wolf, WBLQ 1230.

For more information about the Greater Westerly Relay For Life, to join a team, or make a donation please visit www.relayforlife.org/westerlyri, find us on Facebook: Westerly Relay for Life, Instagram: @WesterlyRelay4Life; Twitter: @WesterlyRelay.