Relay for Life Walk Raises $347,000 to Benefit the American Cancer Society

As darkness engulfed the sky, and the luminaries burned brightly along the track, almost 1500 participants of all ages, walked to support a cause they passionately believe in, remembering those who lost their lives to cancer, and honoring those who survived.

On the grounds of Governor Livingston High School, 114 teams from Berkeley Heights, New Providence, Summit and Mountainside participated in the 10th annual Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Members of each team take turns throughout the night walking the track that is encircled with luminaries upon which are written the names of loved ones who have died and those who have survived.

The event began at 3 p.m. yesterday, when the teams set up camp in ‘tent city” with all the necessities needed for their night-long vigil, and concluded at 6:30 a.m. this morning when it was officially announced that the event raised a record-breaking $350,000, surpassing the $315,000 goal set for this year. 

At last night’s opening ceremony, Linda Weber, the Chair of the 2011 Relay for Life, was joined by Berkeley Heights Mayor Joe Bruno, and Mountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli in welcoming participants and supporters which included 100 cancer survivors, family and friends.

Andrew Shephard, 18, of Berkeley Heights was honored with the first ever ‘Eternal Flame Award’ for his courage and enduring spirit of hope and generosity during his 22 month journey to heal his body after receiving a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma T-cell type.

He will be completing his final round of chemotherapy later this month and entering college in the fall to study music. Despite a diagnosis that might have left others powerless, in the last two years, Shephard and his team  -- "Shep's Vets" -- raised $29,000 for cancer research. He donated a portion of the funds to help his first roommate at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York.

For participants like Christine Cassu of Berkeley Heights, who has taken part in the Relay for Life event for the last four years, the night affords her an opportunity to reflect on her 47-year-old aunt who lost her battle with breast cancer. 

Cassu is the team captain of a team called the ‘Forget-Me-Nots’ – inspired by the flower of the same name.

She walked her two hour relay between 4 and 6 a.m.

“I love walking at this time, because when the sun begins to come up, it’s so beautiful, I get goose bumps,” said Cassu.

“I think about a lot of things as I walk. We have all been touched by cancer in some way.  As I walk, I think about my aunt and everything she had to go through and I feel so proud to be part of this team and part of this event,” said Cassu.

While she awakened early yesterday morning, she said she was not at all concerned about being able to stay awake and walk throughout the night.

“It’s the spirit of those we have lost that keeps us going,” said Cassu.

In her 7th year participating in the event, Anna Pitingolo, 15, served as the captain of the Dominoes.

Pitingolo’s mother is a breast cancer survivor and has been free of cancer for seven years. She was scheduled to walk from 12 to 2 a.m.

“As I walk I look at the luminaries and I think of those who are still battling cancer,” said Pitingolo, who lost three grandparents and an aunt to the disease.

She said despite that fact that there is a lot of planning involved for the event, she gets a lot of sleep the night before and is happy to participate.

“There’s a lot of coordination that goes into this event, including making sure we have enough food, identifying and signing up chaperones, making sure someone brings a tent, and all the set up and final preparation on the day of the event, but it’s definitely worth it,” said Pitingolo.

Steering the coordination of the entire event was Deirdre McGuinness, Senior Director of Special Events for the American Cancer Society (ACS). Margaret Illis of Berkeley Heights served as public relations coordinator for the event.

“The Relay for Life event has been held in the area for 10 years, but the event was established by the American Cancer Society in 1985,” said McGuinness.

“In addition to the incredible spirit of the teams who walk throughout the night, we have other special activities such as the survivor reception held on Saturday afternoon that is hosted by Overlook Hospital and the luminaria ceremony at 9:30 p.m. is especially beautiful to behold,” said Illis.

Kim Spellman and her daughter Erin were among the hundreds of volunteers who helped to make the event possible.

“Every year we think of how we can make the event better organized and more enjoyable,” said Kim Spellman.

The event has special meaning to both Kim and her daughter. She said her sister- in-law lost her life 11 years ago to breast cancer and died only three weeks after she was diagnosed. Erin who was 7 -years-old at the time, remembers her Aunt Betsy. 

“There is nothing better than the Relay for Life. Once you get involved, you just begin to feed off each other’s energy. Everyone is so inspired. I’m going to participate in this event for the rest of my life,” said Erin Spellman.

Tatianna LaSasso, 18, recently honored as ‘Youth of the Year and Volunteer of the Year’ by the Summit YMCA, was among the participants who were inspired to help because of the people in their lives who have been touched by cancer.

“When I was three months old, my grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He’s been fighting it for 18 years,” said LaSasso.

She said she also lost a close friend to the disease in the fourth grade, and she was also participating to support her friend Andrew “Drew” Shephard, in his struggle with the disease.

Though the last two years have been the most challenging year of his life, Shephard said he is looking forward to college and eventually working as a touring musician or live sound engineer.

“There is such a great energy at events like this. When you see everyone so excited to be part of this, it just makes you feel good,” said Shephard.

The Relay for Life was launched as a symbol to remind us that Cancer never sleeps, it never takes a break, said McGuinness.

At the opening ceremeony, Sean Waller, a Berkeley Heights teacher, cancer survivor and author of a new book titled: “Sick Boy,” told the story of how he survived cancer after he was diagnosed at the age of 12.  

 "I survived largely because I was just lucky. With events like this, we’re hoping to take the luck out of the equation,” said Waller.

He said, instead, the goal is to find a reliable cure that everyone can count on. 

For more information about the event, visit the Web site at: http://www.relayforlife.org/berkeleyheightsnj