To the Editor:

On Saturday, May 31, 2014, I participated in my fifth Relay for Life as a part of the Mighty Moms team. It was a wonderful, chilly night, and a substantial amount of money was raised for the American Cancer Society. Raising money to fund the fight against cancer was the main reason we were all there, but this letter has a different focus.

 I wanted to take a moment to commend the young adults who attended and participated in this event. Not only did their teams raise money, they participated fully in the activities offered throughout the night with enthusiasm and sportsmanship. These teams decorated their sites to match the theme, created team t-shirts, follow the rules set forth, stayed the entire 12 hours, and some even donated their hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Most importantly, they conducted themselves in a way that made this mother proud!

At a time when so much is written about this age group making poor choices, these young adult should be proud of their conduct at Relay for Life. Their parents should be very proud of them as well. They all handled the freedom of an overnight event like champs.

Kudos to them! Their joyful, playful spirit was apparent both in the organized RFL activities and your own pick-up games on the field. These teens, many of whom I’ve known since elementary school, are our future and I believe we are in great hands!

Sincerely,

Kimberly D. Duffy

4 Chestnut Knoll Drive, Sandy Hook             June 2, 2014