Huntington's Relay For Life
is Full of Love
These teenagers have an awful lot to be proud about after hundreds of Huntington High School students, supported by a large segment of the community raised nearly $157,000 for the American Cancer Society at last Friday night's Relay For Life.
Standing on the roadway near the entrance to the school grounds and looking down at dozens of gazebos and more than a thousand people of all ages walking silently on the track, playing games, reading, socializing, eating and otherwise going about their business, it was difficult not to get choked up at what Huntington's students had managed to pull-off.
A total of 718 registered participants on 66 teams had raised $156,888 as of Sunday afternoon. The total surpassed last year's impressive amount by more than $20,000. Last spring marked the first time that Huntington had ever held its own Relay For Life and there was some degree of doubt about whether this year's event could match the original level of energy and excitement. Such fears evaporated quickly last Friday night.
Many of those in attendance last Friday night were not officially registered, but happily took part in event, walking in remembrance of those loved and lost, offering encouragement, love and support to those battling cancer and standing as a witness at the opening ceremony.
"I think we had a very successful turnout," said Nikki Smoot, who coordinated the event with fellow seniors Molly Prep and Gabe Goldman. "I'm really proud of the Huntington community. Everyone's support Friday night was outstanding and because of our fundraising, I know that we've touched many people's lives in different ways."
As of Sunday afternoon, the top 30 individual fundraisers included Danielle Schultz ($4,967), Molly Prep ($4,863), Jaclyn Schultz ($3,186), Nick Arleo ($2,145), Emily Saltman ($1,891), Justin Johnson ($1,665), Adelia Witt ($1,525), Sydney Johnson ($1,435), Stephen Cadorette ($1,270), Jack Glicker ($1,137), Samantha Glicker ($1,135), Hallie Raskin ($1,125), Sam Latt ($1,109), Sophia Latt ($1,070), Sabrina Palacios ($1,050), Alyson Baker ($1,020), Mathew Weinschreider ($1,000), Jaime Moskowitz ($1,000), Tom DiGiacomo ($975), Adam Spector ($945), Emily Rogan ($935), Kristina Abt ($925), Amy Schmelter ($863), Michael Williams ($850), Chris Cordeiro ($840), Cole Blackburn ($840), Melissa Rosenberg ($825), Xavier Palacios ($820), Joseph Cohen ($790) and Julianna Barca ($750).
The event's coordinators worked closely with a group of fellow students who played key roles on the organizing committee, each assuming responsibility for a particular aspect of the huge undertaking. Joseph Cohen, a high school science teacher and Huntington's National Honor Society chapter faculty advisor and Alyssa Knudsen, the American Cancer Society's staff partner assigned to Huntington's Relay For Life, provided students with guidance and support along the way.
An Emotional Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony saw Huntington School Board President Emily Rogan, Superintendent James W. Polansky and high school Principal Dr. Carmela Leonardi, among others, take turns praising the student organizers and participants in the event and telling the crowd how cancer has touched their own families.
Science teacher Judy Pazienza told of her battle against breast cancer during a heartfelt introduction of senior Molly Prep. The teenager went on to give a powerful speech detailing her personal fight against childhood leukemia and her life in the 10 years since that initial diagnosis, drawing sustained applause from a crowd of about 1,000.
"I was beyond proud of my community on Friday," Ms. Prep said. "I was already stunned that we had far surpassed our $135,000 goal before the event, but the community didn't stop there. So many people attended the event, whether they walked the track or participated in on-site fundraisers. The air was charged with hope and kindness. Countless people came up to me after my speech, some I knew and some I didn't, to congratulate me on my survivorship and to thank me for being a part of planning this event."
Ms. Prep covered a lot of ground during the night at last year's Relay For Life and did the same last week. "I ran another 10 miles at Relay this year and I was humbled to have various people join me on some of my laps, running in silent solidarity with me for a half-a-mile or so, each for their own reasons," the teenager said. "It was an amazing experience. I am so thankful to Mr. Cohen and Alyssa Knudsen for all they did for our Relay. It was an honor to work with Nikki and Gabe as co-event chairs as well, and we're all proud of the work our Relay committees and participants accomplished. I'm humbled to have been part of something so incredible, and I will definitely be back next year!"
"It is particularly difficult to generate the same level of enthusiasm, energy and fundraising when organizing a Relay event for a second consecutive year," Mr. Polansky said. "That is, unless you are in Huntington. Last year's event was outstanding, but it seems that there were some who may have missed out last year, but made a point to join us last weekend. Thanks to the efforts of Molly Prep, Gabe Goldman, Nikki Smoot, Mr. Cohen and all contributing members of the Huntington school community, event participation increased as did the amount raised in support of cancer research - in excess of $150,000! As district superintendent and as one whose mom is a current survivor, I could not be prouder of the collective accomplishment."
Swept Away by Emotional Tide
Beginning with the opening ceremony, where hundreds of Huntington High School students sat silently on the track as cancer survivors told the large crowd about their individual battles to fight and conquer the dreaded disease to the lighting of luminaria that ringed the entire running track to the closing ceremony that saw hundreds of participants quietly circling the track at daybreak on Saturday at 5:30 a.m., it was nearly impossible not to be swept away by an emotional tide.
"I am so proud of our students for making the second Relay For Life event so successful," Mrs. Rogan said. "There was such a sense of unity Friday night; people walking, remembering and celebrating together in memory of those we've lost and in honor of those who have survived. It was true testament to the character and commitment of the members of our school community."
Reviewing the lovingly inscribed and creatively decorated luminaria bags was another experience that could easily choke-up a person. The bag chronicled the personal reasons why participants were "relaying" in often heart-breaking terms, calling out to family and friends brought down by cancer and expressing their unconditional love for them. Many wrote the names of parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters and other close relatives and friends and the particular type of cancer they had been stricken by.
An energetic organizing committee met every Friday afternoon for months to plan the event down to the last possible detail. Mr. Cohen said he provided the teenagers with guidance, but otherwise let them take the lead and he is anxious to give them the credit for the event's success.
When the opening ceremony concluded cancer survivors assembled on the track to walk the first lap of the event. Watching folks of all ages make their way around the oval, some supported by their caregivers was a heart-wrenching experience for other participants and spectators.
Each participating team was required to have at least one member on the track walking at all times because "cancer never sleeps." Some participants covered more than 10 miles over the course of the night. When they weren't walking, folks were socializing, playing lawn or other types of games, reading, eating or enjoying round-the-clock entertainment on a huge portable stage donated by the town.
The Huntington Booster Club was on hand providing food and refreshments from the stadium field house. Dozens of local businesses pitched in by buying ads that were placed on signs around the site, contributing to the Relay online through donations to participants and by providing goods.
When the sun went down a four separate units of portable lights powered by diesel generators illuminated the athletic fields and the Blue Devil Stadium complex. Participants played games on the synthetic turf field while hundreds quietly circled the track through the overnight hours.
Mr. Cohen said that organizers "couldn't have made this happen without the administration, school board, buildings and grounds department, security, staff, students and community."
When the event wrapped up early Saturday morning, those who stayed overnight appeared clearly exhausted. As they made their way to their cars, they did so with the comfort of knowing they had just participated in one of the most impressive displays of love, hope and celebration that Huntington High School has ever seen.