Relay for Life returns for its final year
A previous Chenango County Relay for Life. This year's relay will be held on July 17 in East Park, and will only be open to participants, survivors, family members, and specially invited guests. (Photo from Relay for Life of Chenango County Facebook page)
NORWICH — The annual fundraiser to fight cancer, known as Relay for Life, is returning to Norwich for it's 25th and final year.
Unfortunately over the years, the Relay for Life in Chenango County has seen a downturn in participation, which was only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Event Chairman Lynne Robertson.
"The last two years didn't help anybody. Our participation I think was down with everybody anyway," said Robertson. "We have a number of teams that are just not doing anything this year because they're still working from home and they don't have the ability to fundraise and everything."
Committee member Marie Loughren said the American Cancer Society (ACS), who oversees the events across the nation, has begun to change the way they do the events as well.
"The American Cancer Society is kind of taking a turn in what the Relay for Life looks like on a national level too, because I think the events nationwide have changed," said Loughren. "The groups don't necessarily want to spend the 24 hours overnight, walking all night. They don't have that participation nationwide, not just here."
"I think COVID too also made the ACS- it forced them to change. Like I think it was in the works, because they were seeing the participation dwindle. But then all of a sudden last year when they were forced to go completely virtual, they started turning," she added.
This year's Relay for Life will be held in East Park on July 17, but it will look different from previous years, as most events this year have.
The relay will be open to participants, cancer survivors, their family members, and specially invited guests, said Robertson.
"Participants, survivors, and invited guests, is kind of where we're at as who's gonna be there," said Robertson.
This limitation is largely due to the concern with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the health risk it poses to the cancer survivors that may be present, according to committee member Lesa Babcock.
"But we have some committee members that are really concerned about the survivors and people coming with no mask on," she said.
Robertson agreed, stating "we have our survivors to think about."
The event will once again be selling luminaria bags, which are paper bags that hold candles inside. Upon purchase, participants can decorate them and light the candle to honor a cancer survivor, or in remembrance of someone who passed, said Loughren.
"So right now for us they're a five dollar bag, and you can do them in honor of a survivor who's obviously still living, or in memory of someone who has passed. We do a ceremony, we personally read the names of all the people that we've lost," she explained.
A DJ has also been hired for this year's relay, and Babcock stated the music will be live streamed on Facebook, in an attempt to keep the event more on the virtual side.
While Relay for Life may be coming to an end, the committee members stressed that this one event is not the only way to raise money to fight cancer. Throughout the year there are several smaller events geared towards raising money for cancer prevention, research, and treatment.
"We always do a chicken barbecue in the spring, and usually Mothers Day weekend we did a chicken and biscuit dinner," explained Babcock.
It will also be hard for committee members to walk away from the cause altogether, said Robertson. She emphasized that the end of Relay for Life does not mean the end of fundraising and activism against cancer.
"For me to walk away is really, really hard, but I think where a lot of people are, and even I think we're finding with ACS, I don't think a lot of us will ever truly walk away. We will continue. Even if we stop the event, it doesn't mean that you can't do something and donate to the American Cancer Society," said Robertson.
Babcock also explained that even though Relay for Life is coming to an end this year, there is the possibility for revival in the future, should a new group of people want to take it over.
"But we also want it to be known, if somebody's willing, like the current committee is the one that's calling it quits. Any new blood that wants to come and take over to continue the tradition is more than welcome," Babcock said.
The Chenango County Relay for Life has "run its course," according to Loughren, but in its 25 years it had a massive impact in the fight against cancer.
"Chenango County has raised well over a million dollars in the 25 years. So that for a tiny little county I think is amazing," said Robertson.
Those interested in helping run any future Relay for Life events can email relay.chenango@gmail.com.
For more information on the Chenango County Relay for Life, visit their Facebook page, Relay for Life of Chenango County. Information on Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society can be found at secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay.
Unfortunately over the years, the Relay for Life in Chenango County has seen a downturn in participation, which was only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Event Chairman Lynne Robertson.
"The last two years didn't help anybody. Our participation I think was down with everybody anyway," said Robertson. "We have a number of teams that are just not doing anything this year because they're still working from home and they don't have the ability to fundraise and everything."
Committee member Marie Loughren said the American Cancer Society (ACS), who oversees the events across the nation, has begun to change the way they do the events as well.
"The American Cancer Society is kind of taking a turn in what the Relay for Life looks like on a national level too, because I think the events nationwide have changed," said Loughren. "The groups don't necessarily want to spend the 24 hours overnight, walking all night. They don't have that participation nationwide, not just here."
"I think COVID too also made the ACS- it forced them to change. Like I think it was in the works, because they were seeing the participation dwindle. But then all of a sudden last year when they were forced to go completely virtual, they started turning," she added.
This year's Relay for Life will be held in East Park on July 17, but it will look different from previous years, as most events this year have.
The relay will be open to participants, cancer survivors, their family members, and specially invited guests, said Robertson.
"Participants, survivors, and invited guests, is kind of where we're at as who's gonna be there," said Robertson.
This limitation is largely due to the concern with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the health risk it poses to the cancer survivors that may be present, according to committee member Lesa Babcock.
"But we have some committee members that are really concerned about the survivors and people coming with no mask on," she said.
Robertson agreed, stating "we have our survivors to think about."
The event will once again be selling luminaria bags, which are paper bags that hold candles inside. Upon purchase, participants can decorate them and light the candle to honor a cancer survivor, or in remembrance of someone who passed, said Loughren.
"So right now for us they're a five dollar bag, and you can do them in honor of a survivor who's obviously still living, or in memory of someone who has passed. We do a ceremony, we personally read the names of all the people that we've lost," she explained.
A DJ has also been hired for this year's relay, and Babcock stated the music will be live streamed on Facebook, in an attempt to keep the event more on the virtual side.
While Relay for Life may be coming to an end, the committee members stressed that this one event is not the only way to raise money to fight cancer. Throughout the year there are several smaller events geared towards raising money for cancer prevention, research, and treatment.
"We always do a chicken barbecue in the spring, and usually Mothers Day weekend we did a chicken and biscuit dinner," explained Babcock.
It will also be hard for committee members to walk away from the cause altogether, said Robertson. She emphasized that the end of Relay for Life does not mean the end of fundraising and activism against cancer.
"For me to walk away is really, really hard, but I think where a lot of people are, and even I think we're finding with ACS, I don't think a lot of us will ever truly walk away. We will continue. Even if we stop the event, it doesn't mean that you can't do something and donate to the American Cancer Society," said Robertson.
Babcock also explained that even though Relay for Life is coming to an end this year, there is the possibility for revival in the future, should a new group of people want to take it over.
"But we also want it to be known, if somebody's willing, like the current committee is the one that's calling it quits. Any new blood that wants to come and take over to continue the tradition is more than welcome," Babcock said.
The Chenango County Relay for Life has "run its course," according to Loughren, but in its 25 years it had a massive impact in the fight against cancer.
"Chenango County has raised well over a million dollars in the 25 years. So that for a tiny little county I think is amazing," said Robertson.
Those interested in helping run any future Relay for Life events can email relay.chenango@gmail.com.
For more information on the Chenango County Relay for Life, visit their Facebook page, Relay for Life of Chenango County. Information on Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society can be found at secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay.
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