2012 Relay Likely To Be Under Friday Night Lights

By John Voket

The 2012 Relay For Life, long a Saturday tradition in Newtown, will likely be moving to Friday this year. Event Chair Michelle Babyak issued the news in an e-mail to Relay committee chairs Thursday morning.

“We have a scheduling conflict with Newtown Youth Academy and need to change the date of Relay,” Ms Babyak said. “At this point they are looking into the day before [the originally scheduled date], which will be Friday, June 1.”

Ms Babyak said she is excited about the prospect of a date change.

“I do think all around it may be a better date for most people,” she said. “Having it start on a Friday night will give everyone more [time on the] weekend and a full day to recover before going back to work.”

Ms Babyak said if the Friday night switch does not work out logistically for the NYA, the event will shift about a quarter mile west to the soccer field area at Fairfield Hills — the site of the 2009 and 2010 events.

She said she plans to announce the date change and hopefully will confirm the location at the 2012 Relay’s official kickoff event February 1 in the Newtown High School Cafetorium. The celebration runs from 7 to 8 pm.

It is the hope of volunteers, organizers, and supporters that the 2012 relay will repeat the success of last year’s, and they invite the community to come out on February 1 to celebrate, remember, and support those who have had or have cancer.

This year’s Relay will honor those touched directly by cancer, as well as their caregivers, with a superheroes theme.

Those who cannot attend the free public kickoff meeting are invited to any or all remaining informational meetings scheduled for April 4, May 2, and May 23, also in the Newtown High School Cafetorium at 7 pm.

The Relay For Life raises funds for individuals in the Newtown community, throughout the region, and those everywhere who also benefit from the research funded by donations and sponsorship of Relays across the nation.

Newtown’s relay is a 12-hour, nonsporting event that extends overnight with teams camping out while keeping at least one team member on the track at all times.

Anyone needing more information on Relay, and those looking to start a team are welcome to attend any of the upcoming meetings or visit the Newtown relay website, www.relayforlife.org/newtownct.