Be A Part Of The Relay

The 2011 Relay For Life gets underway in Newtown on Saturday in front of the Newtown Youth Academy at the Fairfield Hills campus, with scores of local teams assembling to participate in the Relay this year. Organizers are hoping that by the time the event is over in the early morning hours of Sunday, 500 people will have participated directly in the event, raising $200,000 or more in support of the American Cancer Society’s continuing fight against a disease that touches nearly everyone, either directly or through family or friends.

For those who have never attended the Relay, despite all the talk about “teams” and “laps” at the event, the Relay For Life is no more a sporting event than, say, the Labor Day Parade or the Christmas tree lighting in the Ram Pasture in early December. Like these other events, the emphasis is on togetherness and the remarkable ability of this sprawling town to celebrate like a tightly knit family. It is not a great competition, but rather a great appreciation. Consequently, spectators are not only welcome but essential for maintaining the momentum of people circling the Relay course in one sustained push against a disease that claimed 570,000 lives in the United States last year; 6,850 in Connecticut.

While we pride ourselves on being a country of rugged individualists, when facing our toughest challenges — and cancer ranks high on that list — our prospects for overcoming those challenges improve when we close ranks and face them together. Just as a body must marshal its forces against disease, the path to recovery and health for cancer survivors and their caregivers requires the attention and care of support systems far beyond their own means. This larger marshalling of forces is no easy task. Beyond the money raised, the important message that comes out of Newtown’s annual Relay For Life is that while family and friends almost always will gather to help those who must fight for their lives against cancer, there is also a much greater ring of support that involves the whole community.

The public events for this year’s Relay begin at 3 pm, with formal opening ceremonies set for 6 pm. Other highlights include a Recognition Ceremony at 8 pm and the beautiful and deeply touching Luminaria Ceremony at 9 pm. No other public event in Newtown so profoundly touches the lives of so many people we know and love. Put in an appearance and show your support.