Stars Shine Bright at Relay for Life of Stoneham

Six years after its inaugural event, Relay for Life of Stoneham continues to shine. Hundreds of community members attended the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser, Relay for Life, on June 10-11 at Stoneham High School. In its first six years, Relay for Life of Stoneham has raised approximately $700,000 for the American Cancer Society! This year’s Relay theme was “Everything Hollywood,” and the event highlighted Stoneham’s own Relay stars, who shared their own personal experiences with cancer in order to raise awareness. Stoneham’s Relay stars shined bright this past weekend.

Stoneham resident Maureen McGinness rallied the community to bring Relay for Life to Stoneham in 2011. She also served as the event lead until last year. During the Opening Ceremony, Holly Grant, Executive Director of the American Cancer Society, presented McGinness with an award recognizing her outstanding efforts to fight cancer. DJ Buono, this year’s event lead, Eric Duffy of the American Cancer Society, and Stoneham School Committee Member Nicole Nial delivered opening remarks. Stoneham High School student Isabella Childs sang the National Anthem.

Seventeen-year-old Stoneham resident Drew Celli, a survivor of Hodgkins Lymphoma, was the event’s keynote speaker. Celli stated, “cancer never had an effect on my life until December 2015, when I heard the three words nobody wants to hear, you have cancer.” Celli talked about the toll his medications took on his body and how the support from his friends and family helped him through tough times. Celli stated, “events like Relay for Life are very important, the money raised from events like these save lives, it helped to save my life.” Celli credited his doctors at Tufts Medical Center and the support from his friends and family for saving his life. On April 5, 2016, Celli got the news that he was cancer free. Celli thanked his parents and his brothers, Evan and Jojo, for their support and for being with him every step of the way during his difficult treatments.

The highlight of Relay each year is the Luminaria Ceremony, where candles are lit inside of personalized bags and are placed around the track as glowing tributes to cancer survivors and loved ones lost to cancer. This year, Luminaria speaker Donna Geer shared her own family’s personal experience with the devastation of cancer in hopes of spreading awareness about Relay for Life and the need for more funding for cancer research and treatments so that another family does not have an experience like hers. Donna’s son, David Geer, passed away on February 21, 2011 at the age of 19 after a five-year hard fought battle with cancer. Donna described the day doctors told she and her husband John that David had a malignant brain tumor that had spread to his spine and they could not operate. “We could not believe what we were hearing, a totally healthy 14-year-old boy who loved to play sports. This is when a living nightmare became true for our family.” David’s presence at the Luminaria Ceremony was palpable, and there was not a dry eye in the crowd.

Also during the Luminaria Ceremony, an empty table set with a white table cloth was highlighted. Stoneham residents Todd and Lucy Davis, team captains of Central Connection, read the poem “The Empty Table.” The poem began: “We call your attention to the small table that occupies a place of dignity and honor. It is set for one, symbolizing the fact that some of our loved ones are missing from this gathering. They have been diagnosed with cancer, and they are some of the names and faces behind the luminaries.” This was another powerful moment. The Davis’ Relay team Central Connection has raised approximately $75,000 for Relay for Life of Stoneham in the past six years; $12,000 this year alone.

The leadership team of Relay for Life of Stoneham would like to thank our Relay stars for sharing their personal stories and making the event powerful and meaningful. Thank you to Angelo’s Ristorante of Stoneham for generously sponsoring and catering the delicious survivor dinner that was held onsite. We would also like to thank the following people/organizations for donating their time and talent towards a successful event: Donna Cargill, SHS Principal; Les Olson, Superintendent of Schools; Dave Pignone, Athletic Director; Jimmy Thain, Lauren Guess, and Nicole Eckhardt, Zumba; Nick Grace; Matt Kilty; Dan Hudson; Kathy Hudson; the SHS Booster Club, SHS drama club, SHS football and hockey teams; Stoneham Girl Scouts; Alex Boonstra, Wakefield Moving and Storage; The Way Massage Therapy; Stoneham Little League; The Energy Barre; Stoneham Fire Department; Nicole’s Salon and Day Spa; and Spinner Music Productions. A special shout out to all of the 2017 team captains for their dedication to Relay and their amazing fundraising efforts.

The event may be over, but the fundraising continues! Donations are accepted through August 31 and can be made online at relayforlife.org/stonehamma or mailed to:

American Cancer Society

Relay for Life of Stoneham

43 Nagog Park Suite 110

Acton, MA 01720