It’s June 7th, 2013, and the big Relay for Life of Barrington event is finally here! Starting at 6 p.m., tonight’s overnight Relay is billed as the “biggest sleepover of the year” as hundreds of Barrington 220 students, families and supporters of the American Cancer Society camp out at Barrington High School, taking laps around the track throughout the night.
65 teams have signed up to walk in tonight’s Barrington Relay for Life, in support of survivors and in the name of countless others who have lost their lives to cancer. So far, 463 participants have helped these teams raise a total of over $160,000 for this event, supporting American Cancer Society initiatives that help care for cancer survivors and continue their quest to find a cure.
If you can’t make it out to tonight’s Relay, you can still support the cause by making a contribution to one of the Relay’s 65 teams. CLICK HERE to find the full list of teams which include a new group this year called The Fight Club, walking to support Vikki Merchant. Vikki is a local mother-of-three who will be walking as a cancer survivor, for the first time, in tonight’s Relay.
Because taking part in the Barrington Relay is a “first” for Vikki and her family this year, I asked if she’d tell us a little more about her story and here’s what she shared:
Why are you taking part in this year’s Relay?
“On May 18, 2012 I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. On June 7th, 2012 I had surgery and began my treatments. During those treatments I utilized American Cancer Society resources (wig help, prosthetics, etc) to enable me to feel “normal” while I continued working. The fact that this year’s relay fell on June 7th – exactly one year from the start of my treatment journey – was a sign for me to step in and do something to give back and help others. I have a 3 children, including one daughter. I hope she never has to face dealing with breast cancer, but because of today’s odds, she will need to be vigilant about getting screenings throughout her life. To me, Relay for Life is a display of the community pulling together to help family and friends fight cancer, and to support research to find a cure.
The Barrington Relay for Life is a celebration of the desire to win against cancer”
How is the participation in Barrington’s Relay for Life helpful to you, your family and friends?
“The turnout / celebration definitely make you realize you are not alone in this fight. Others are also fighting and supporting you. It shows just how tough and strong our community is… how many survivors we have, and why we need to keep fighting and fundraising.”
What would you like others in Barrington to know about the importance of taking part or supporting this cause?
“The American Cancer Society provides significant funding for cancer research. They utilize approximately $.72 of every dollar for treatments, research, prevention, detection and patient support. That is a powerful number. That money goes to help people in our community every day.”
You’ll also find other strong teams rallying behind survivors in tonight’s Relay, like Team Elena Rocks, a group we wrote about last year…
and Team Denise, a group that’s also among the top fundraisers for tonight’s relay…
If you’re planning to come out to tonight’s Relay at Barrington High School, here’s a reminder about the overnight schedule of events…
Schedule of Events
4 pm – Registration Opens
5 pm – Survivor Dinner
6 pm – Opening Ceremony
6:45 to 7:15 – Big Phat Quintet
7:15 to 7:30 – Cake Decorating Awards
7:30 to 7:45 – Premium Blend
7:45 – Mr. Barrington, Frozen T-shirt Contest, Project Relay
8:15 – Elena Rocks
8:30 – Glow in the Dark Zumba
9:00 – Quinn Rowe
9:30 – X & Premium Blend
10:00 – Luminaria Ceremony
10:45 – The Road Not Taken
Midnight – Dodgeball Tournament
1 am – Karaoke
2 am – Movie on the Field (VOTE at the t-shirt pickup station)
5 am – Yoga Wakeup & Breakfast
6 am – Closing Ceremony
For more information about the Relay for Life of Barrington, CLICK HERE to find their Facebook page or visit the relay website at RelayForLifeOffBarrington.org.
