Relay for Life of Manchester Enters its Fourth Year

In 2013, the third annual Relay For Life in Manchester raised more than $46,000 to support the programs of the American Cancer Society. This year, organizers are hoping to top that, with a goal of raising $50,237 in donations. The 19 teams and nearly 200 participants (and still counting!) are planning for a June 28-29 event that will Celebrate survivors, Remember those who have lost their battle, and Fight Back by helping the ACS find a cure for cancer.

Each year, one in every 100 Americans participates in a Relay For Life fundraising event. Manchester-area residents again, have an opportunity to become part of this global phenomenon.

The Relay will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 28 at the Manchester High School Athletic Complex, with a Survivor lap honoring those who have fought this disease. The opening ceremonies and survivor lap will be immediately followed by a free survivor brunch at the Manchester United Methodist Church fellowship hall. All cancer survivors (defined as anyone who has ever received a diagnosis of cancer of any type) are welcome to attend, even if they are unable to participate in the remainder of the event.

Throughout the day on Saturday, teams will offer games, food, and other fund-raising events for a fun-filled, family-friendly occasion. Theme laps will add to the fun, including mustache laps, egg laps, hat laps, a Ms. Relay contest, and more. Each team will have at least one member walking the track during the entire 24 hour event to symbolize that cancer doesn’t sleep.

At 10 p.m., the Luminaria ceremonies will signal the beginning of the dark hours of the Relay. As the sun sets, candlelit luminaries will be set around the track in honor and in memory of those who have fought cancer. Names of those being honored will be read off by Steering Committee members, and luminarias spelling out the word HOPE will turn into a CURE as the hour progresses. This is a moving and uplifting time to remember anyone who has fought the battle.

The committee has a goal to “PACK THE TRACK” this year with tents, teams, family-oriented entertainment, food, music, and most of all, PEOPLE! It’s important to stress that you do not have to make a 24 hour commitment, be on a team, or raise any money, in order to attend the Manchester Relay for Life.

Consider this your open invitation to plan to come down to the Manchester High School Athletic Complex between 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, and 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 29. Here you can learn what Relay is all about, visit with your friends and neighbors who are participating, and perhaps help out by contributing to one of the many fund-raising projects that will be taking place throughout the weekend. The group is proud to have raised close to $100,000 over the first three years of its existence in Manchester!

Sponsors, participants, teams, and individual donors are still being welcomed by the Steering Committee. Contact Mary Bortmas at 734-428-0888, or Marsha Chartrand at 734-474-9518, for additional information about sponsorship, participation, or to make a donation to the event.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.