Montville Students Share Relay for Life Experience

Six Montville Township teens recently planned and organized a high school assembly. Five of them are seniors at Montville Township High School [MTHS]. One, also a township resident, is a senior at Montclair Kimberley Academy. All have been impacted by cancer.

Each had a story of cancer. Several shared their stories. Some told of the illness of a mother, or the loss of a father, or the impact on a sibling, or the loss of a year, or the loss of a life.  All spoke of hope, and all spoke of life.

Together they presented the 2014 Montville Relay for Life Kickoff Event.

Relay for Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society. Over 5,000 Relay for Life events take place annually across the United States. In Montville Township, the 2014 event will be held Saturday, June 7 from Noon to Midnight at the MTHS track.

In Montville Township, these six high school seniors have been marching for a cure for as many as eight years. This year they asked their peers to join them.

They asked their peers to: “Make a Change,” “Get Involved,” “Be Loud,” and “Love BIG.”

They asked their peers to participate in Relay for Life.

The presenters spoke of raising funds and raising awareness. They described entertainment, fresh air, exercise, bands, food, games and a fair-like atmosphere. They also showed a video which illustrated the joy and camaraderie found in spending twelve hours with friends in the support of an important cause.

Love Strong, At Relay We Wear Pink, Hot Pink, Positively Pink, and Still Cruisin’ are the names of a few Montville teams. Teams of students, and families, and friends. Teams that will walk at the 2014 Montville Township Relay for Life.

Anyone can join a team, make their own team, or attend the event. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior MTHS teams have also been set up for students who are not sure what team to join.

Anyone can attend for twelve hours, or just to grab dinner and enjoy a band. The event is open from Noon to Midnight, and everyone is welcome to spend as much or as little time as they wish. In fact, if time is an issue, a person can simply make only a donation.

One hundred and twenty-two MTHS students attended the early morning kickoff event. Not only did they learn about education and treatment initiatives that the funds raised through Relay for Life support, but they learned about each other.

Sitting in a dark auditorium, the assembly organizers asked the audience to light a glow stick if someone in their immediate families has had cancer. Suddenly a faint glow appeared in the room. Next the audience was asked to light a glow stick if someone in their extended families had been affected by cancer. The glow grew stronger. Sticks were next lit for neighbors and friends. Finally, for those few who had not lit their glow sticks, the student organizers asked, “Would you walk to help find a cure for cancer?”

With all the glow sticks lit, there was light in the dark.

The 2014 Montville Relay for Life event will be held Saturday, June 7 at the MTHS track from Noon to Midnight. Admission is participation on a team, or $10. There is no deadline for registering, and registration is not necessary in order to attend. Anyone can participate. For more information, to register for a team, to initiate a team, to donate funds, to see how many funds have been raised to date, or to just learn more, visit: www.relayforlife.org/MontvilleNJ.