Relay For Life Seeking Volunteers, Promoting Fundraisers

The 2012 Newtown Relay For Life is just three weeks away. Scheduled for the overnight of June 1 at the Newtown Youth Academy at Fairfield Hills, relay organizers and teams are ramping up activities and efforts to make this year’s cancer awareness and fundraising event a super time for all involved.

With that in mind, this year’s relay will have a super hero theme, with everything from super hero theme music to costumes, tent sites and activities involving numerous comic book, movie, and television do-gooders, and maybe even a few colorful villains.

Organizers are also hoping to involve the general public in several ways. Besides a number of localized fund raisers and awareness-building events, a call has gone out for volunteers who can lend a hand either setting up on the Fairfield Hills grounds on the afternoon of June 1, or during the course of the relay.

According to coordinator Laura Peters Warren, help is needed for decorating, setting up, traffic, registration, and selling food. Anyone available to help should send an e-mail to relayforlifeofnewtown@gmail.com indicating what time is available and any preference of assignment.

Volunteering is counted as community service hours for local high school students.

The Mighty Moms team is sponsoring a “Mom’s Night Out” vendor fair at Stone River Grille on May 10 at 7 pm. The $5 admission provides access to multiple vendors, as well as a chance to win raffles. Attendees can also sample the “Relay-tinis” cocktails that are also available at several other local restaurants and bars through May 14.

Participants in the Relay-tinis fundraiser include: Figs, McGuire’s, Mona Lisa, M Place, Proud Mary’s, Pub 25, Tambascio’s, and The Villa.

In support of Relay For Life, Avance Esthetiques Day Spa will donate 20 percent of the cost for a “Paint the Town Purple” purple manicure or pedicure to the American Cancer Society the week of May 13–19. Avance Esthetiques is at 228 South Main Street in the Sand Hill Plaza.

And all of Newtown is asked to get into the Relay spirit by celebrating “Paint the Town Purple Thursday,” May 17. According to organizer Reena Sahani, “Purple is the official color of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life and the universal color that represents all cancers.”

Participants can fly purple balloons outside their homes and offices, wear something purple, or otherwise display a public message of support for the Relay and Newtown neighbors touched by cancer.

For more information on how to get involved, go to www.relayforlife.org/newtownct.