Luminary Bags and Relay Feet
on Sale Now
The thought of a world with "less cancer and more birthdays" is what drives the students organizing this year's Huntington High School Relay For Life. The inspiring event is set for May 17-18 in and around the Blue Devil athletic field complex.
Partly as a result of the monies raised through countless Relay For Life events across the country, the American Cancer Society is making steady progress in its quest to stamp out a disease that has claimed far too many lives over the years.
"We must continue to fundraise as much as we can to support the American Cancer Society," said Huntington senior Nicole Smoot, who is chairing the high school organizing committee along with classmates Molly Prep and Gabe Goldman. "Purchasing a 'Relay foot' or a luminary bag is a great way to help us fundraise."
Relay feet are on sale now for $1. "We'll write your name on the foot and hang each of them in a chain down the Huntington High School hallways," Ms. Smoot said.
Luminary bags are a popular item as well as an emotional sight as dusk turns to night at the Relay For Life. The colorful bags, which will be placed along the inside lane of the Blue Devil Stadium running track, will be illuminated to create an atmosphere that has been described as "awesome" and even "haunting" by participants. Huntington senior Emily Coleman is chairing the luminaria bag sale initiative.
"Luminary bags are another great way to fundraise," Ms. Smoot said. "Relay For Life participants and donors remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those battling the disease by dedicating luminary bags to them. Each luminary is personalized with a name, photo, message or drawing in memory or honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer."
During the luminaria ceremony at Huntington's Relay For Life on May 17, votive candles will be lit inside the personalized bags "to shine a light on the fight against cancer," according to the Relay For Life website. "The power of this ceremony lies in providing an opportunity for people to share their grief and find hope."
Relay feet and luminary bags can be purchased in science teacher Joseph Cohen's classroom at Huntington High School. Mr. Cohen is the faculty advisor to Huntington's Nathan Hale chapter of the National Honor Society, which is coordinating the high school's Relay For Life.
The items can be purchased at a variety of district-wide events, including Huntington School Board meetings, by visiting Huntington' Relay for Life webpage at www.relayforlife.org/HuntingtonHighSchoolNY or by contacting Huntington High School's American Cancer Society staff partner Alyssa Knudsen at (631) 300-3457 or alyssa.knudsen@cancer.org. Ms. Knudsen is working alongside the Relay For Life's organizing committee.
School community members can physically decorate the luminary bags themselves, contact Ms. Knudesen and provide the information they would like placed on the bag or list the information they want placed on the bag by completing an online form on Huntington's Relay for Life website.
For more information about Huntington's Relay For Life visit the event's website or look for it on Twitter (HHSRELAY4LIFE), Facebook (HHSRELAYFORLIFE2013) or Instagram (HHSRELAY).
Any local business interested in sponsoring this year's Relay For Life at Huntington High School by donating either goods or services is encouraged to contact the organizing committee at hhsrelay@gmail.com