About 35 people gathered at Kutztown High School Nov. 4 for the 2015 Relay For Life Kutztown Kick-off.
Held May 29 to 30 at Kutztown University, Relay is an annual fundraising event for research and to provide information and services to cancer patients and their caregivers. Relay also celebrates and supports cancer survivors.
“We’re really going to focus on getting more students involved, more youth. We already have a great base with our community, but we just want to really bring out those families and make sure that we’re having the little kids run around and have a good time and really just emphasize this is a family affair and we’re really excited to have everyone,” said Courtney Totten, Relay For Life Staff Partner.
Randy Schlegel, DJ and cancer survivor, and his wife, Sally, have been involved with Relay for about 6 years. For Schlegel, being a survivor isn’t why he helps with Relay. It’s about using his talents to help others.
“If people can get more excited about participating in something like Relay when they can hear what’s going on and they know what’s happening and they see different entertainment and they can hear it as they’re walking I think it helps make Relay better and then from the excitement from Relay itself, I think it encourages those that are involved to go out and try and get others to become involved as well and let those other survivors know or those that are going through the whole process of cancer that they can look at this whole thing as an encouragement for them,” said Schlegel.
In the spirit of the Relay 2015 theme Carnival, the kickoff was a carnival of games.
Landin Schmale, 7, Fleetwood, won a prize at one of the games of chance typically found at a carnival, but Landin wasn’t there just for games. He is a part of the Relay because he likes to help people with cancer.
Another youth, John Canceliere, 9, is also involved with Relay. According to his grandmother, Pat Reitnauer, Oley, Canceliere helps with a variety of tasks including setting up of their tent during Relay.
“I would love for everybody in this whole area to join us at Relay for a good time, for our survivors, and for our fight against cancer. I want more people. I want to get the public involved with us,” said Gloria Bubbenmoyer, people lead, and member of Boyer’s Busy B’s Team. “They can shoot me an email at strikersnana@yahoo.com for any information.”
Totten said they would love to have everyone who comes to their next meeting bring a gift for Hope Lodge which the gift would include toilet paper, soap, laundry detergent, etc. Hope Lodge is a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can go when treatment is in another city. The stay is provided at no charge along with resources and information about cancer and how to fight it. For more information, go to http://www.cancer.org/treatment/supportprogramsservices/hopelodge/.
The Kutztown Relay For Life meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 at the Kutztown High School Cafeteria. The Dec. 2 meeting features a visit from Santa Claus.
For more information about upcoming events and areas where help is needed visit http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=68888.
Cash For Cause – Purchase Giant Foods Gift Card and five percent will go to Relay For Life. Contact Laura Unger at lauraeunger@gmail.com or call 484-332-0940.
Santa Calls Program – a holiday program for children. Your child will receive a personal phone call and or a letter from Santa Claus. To participate, go to http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY15EC?pg=informational&fr_id=68888&type=fr_informational&sid=128442 or call 610-921-2329.
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Kutztown Braveheart Team hosts a Sports Memorabilia fundraising show in the spring. For more information, contact tomcengeri at gmail.com or call 610-207-5831.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fleetwood Team will be holding its annual bowling event on Jan. 17 and a Spring Fling Dance. For more information contact jdowls@ptd.net.
Lutheran Topton Home Heartwarmers Team needs volunteers to help with the different activities. Contact Suzie Schmale at jeepfreak57@aol.com. Some of the events the LHT Heartwarmers have hosted were Mother’s Day and Easter flower sales, and candle and hoagie sales.
Position open for a Fund to the Cure Lead. Duties include but are not limited to sponsorship, fund raising, the Mission, and ACS Can.
Donna Wasser, youth activities person, needs help in leading activities with kids. Come to the next meeting Dec. 2 at 6:30 at the Kutztown High School Cafeteria or contact Wasser at donnawasser@ymail.com.
