Cancer affects the lives of people every day. Family members, friends and strangers have or know someone who is or was affected by cancer.
Moorestown is taking a stand to fight against cancer by holding its first ever American Cancer Society Relay for Life event.
Moorestown High School will be hosting the first Moorestown Relay for Life on June 5 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Members of the community are asked to form teams and come out together for this six-hour relay and entertainment experience that helps raise money and awareness about the fight against cancer.
“Relay for Life really gives people such a big hope, and we’re really trying to stop (cancer). With everyone’s help, we can raise more money and do more research so we can eventually stop this horrible disease,” Allison Schurr, Relay leader, said.
Moorestown’s Relay for Life started when Schurr along with her friend Caroline McCoy wanted to bring the event to town. They had been going to Relay for Life events in other locations such as Ocean City, Schurr starting in 2008 after her grandfather passed away from cancer. She felt Moorestown, being such a community-based town, would be a good fit to host an event.
“Moorestown is definitely community based and likes to get involved. I decided to bring it all home and make it a community-wide event so everyone can participate in it,” Schurr said.
In January 2014, Schurr started a club, reached out to the local ACS organization and got in touch with Mat Ogin, community manager for Relay For Life. Ogin said he was originally looking into Moorestown for hosting an event and that it seemed like the right opportunity.
“They felt very strongly and had amazing energy to bring the relay to their hometown. They had a compelling argument. We had loved the area and were already looking at it. So it seemed it was a fortuitous event,” Ogin said.
The kick off will start around 6 p.m. with remarks, and then professional caregivers will give medals to survivors. After that, a survivors’ lap with caregivers or family members will be taken followed by a survivor reception dinner supplied by Famous Dave’s.
Then, the DJ on stage will kick off the event with energizing music, games and activities while people walk around the high school track. Games include soccer, kickball and volleyball as well as dunk tanks. Performances by live local bands and singers such as Courtney Halpin will also go on during the relay. Food and concession stands will be available as well.
Around 9:30 p.m., a Luminaria Ceremony will be held where people donate money to have a bag made in memory of someone who passed or in honor of a cancer survivor. These bags will line the track and be lit up like lanterns while relay goers will take a quiet walk of reflection around the track to think about those who are still fighting, have beaten or have passed away from cancer.
“I think it is the most poignant and memorable part of the relay event,” Ogin said.
The closing ceremony will be held around midnight.
“It is a great opportunity for the community to come together for a good cause in a great atmosphere and compassion, draw people’s attention to the programs offered by the ACS and where donation dollars are going, and also to celebrate cancer survivors and caregivers by giving them the appreciation and love they deserve,” Ogin said.
“This event means the world to those affected by cancer. It is a second chance at life. It is another hope and way to get the word out there to help stop cancer,” Schurr said.
To sign up for Moorestown’s Relay for Life and create a team, go to RelayForLife.org/MoorestownHighNJ. You can also sign up the day of the event, however by signing up early, you’ll receive important, up-to-date emails about the relay.
The goal is to raise $15,000 and have 200 people participate in the event. As of Wednesday, May 20, there were 17 teams and 116 participants who have raised $12,354.28.
From this event, Ogin and Schurr hope people take away information about how to help in the fight against cancer, to honor those who have or had cancer, and to know they can make a difference.
“I hope they take away that they can make a difference in their community, even world-wide. It starts with one person and one hope, and they can make a change in someone’s life,” Schurr said.
“I hope that we continue to find cures and breakthroughs. That is why we have these events,” Ogin said.
For more information on Relay for Life, go to RelayForLife.org or call (800) 227–2345. For specific questions about the Moorestown Relay for Life, contact Ogin at matthew.ogin@cancer.org or (856) 616–1651 ext. 3125.
