A Really Great Experience at
Relay for Life
This year's overnight Relay for Life at Northport High School raised awareness and funds to help fuel the battle against cancer and Huntington High School National Honor Society members were there.
"The students wanted to raise money for the American Cancer Society and selected this event as a way to do it in the beginning of the year," said teacher Joseph Cohen, Huntington's National Honor Society faculty advisor.
The event kicked off Saturday night at 6 p.m. and continued through the evening until 6 a.m. on Sunday. The Huntington contingent included sixteen students who raised a minimum of $100 each and earned the chance to stay overnight at the event. Still more honor society members stopped by for several hours during the night.
"Some students walked five miles, eight miles and some 10 miles," Mr. Cohen said. "They all bought 'lap beads,' which is a thread necklace in which you add a bead after every lap walked and a star after every mile. Some of the students are wearing them in school to show their support for the fight against cancer."
To keep participants motivated, there were fun activities throughout the night, including a crazy hat lap around the track, hula hoop contest, and 1 a.m. aerobics class.
"The night was a very inspiring event," Mr. Cohen said. "My wife, Kathryn, and I chaperoned the event, but we did not feel like supervisors. To see the passion that the kids put into the causes they support and the people they care about was moving. The juniors are even discussing bringing a Relay for Life event to the Huntington community next year."
Huntington senior Alyson Coleman won the hula hoops contest. Some members of the Huntington group took naps during the night in the double tent campsite the students utilized, "but there was always someone from each team walking the track to fight cancer," Mr. Cohen said.
Huntington's contingent included Cristina Badalamenti, Brielle Blatt, Michelle Byrne, Danielle Cerezo, Marie Clifford, John Coffey, Alyson Coleman, Louie Contino ($1,020), Carolyn Fante, Rebecca Deegan, Alexandra Kiley, Alexandra Martinolich, Shira Moskowitz, Mary-Liz O'Neill, Mia Rienzo, David Stillman, Joseph Straub ($800), and Olivia Weller. Messrs. Contino ($1,020) and Straub ($800) obtained the most pledges.
Huntington entered two relay teams in the overnight event. The Blue Devils, captained by Ms. Fante, raised $1,576 while the Blue Devils – 2nd edition, captained by Ms. Moskowitz, brought in $2,317 for the cause.
The total amount raised by Huntington came to $3,893, nearly $1,500 more than the $2,500 threshold for a school to qualify for a Silver Award. Huntington's award is now on display at the school.
"Relay for Life was a really great experience for everyone who participated this year," Ms. Fante said. "I think it brought all of us closer to be able to stay overnight together, and to fundraise together for something we think is important."
The teenagers filled in a banner that hung at their campsite with the names of people they know that have been stricken by cancer. They walked laps on the track all through the night.
"Participating in Relay for life was a great experience," Ms. Moskowitz said. "We all had the opportunity to bond with fellow National Honor Society members while fundraising and showing our support for an important cause. Earlier that morning I had learned that a family friend was diagnosed with cancer. This really motivated me to keep walking and gave my evening purpose."
Ms. Fante said she walked six miles and the Class of 2011 valedictorian believes two of her teammates, Ms. Badalamenti and Ms. Martinolich covered more than 10 miles each. "I would guess collectively we walked close to 50 miles," Ms. Fante said. "It was a fun culmination to all the fundraising we have done and also to our year in the National Honor Society."
At 3 a.m. participants were given an opportunity to circle the Northport track wearing "crazy" hats. There were cancer survivor stories, too.
"We were all really proud when we got to walk around the track holding our team sign for reaching silver level," Ms. Fante said. "It was so much fun and we are really grateful to our advisor Mr. Cohen and his wife for helping us to participate in this event."