FLORENCE: A bad hair day for a good cause

Student-faculty basketball game rallies spirits for Relay for Life

By Amber Cox
   FLORENCE — Residents and students plan to walk through the night at the high school on April 29 and 30 to raise money for the American Cancer Society (ACS) during Relay for Life “because cancer never sleeps.”
   On April 8, the high school held a staff versus students basketball game to get the spirit up for Relay for Life.
   To boost game participation, three teachers volunteered to get their hair dyed purple if 50 students signed up for the event over a two-week period.
   The teachers now have purple hair.
   Math teacher Ed Yaris, social studies teacher Rodney Roberson and music teacher Chris Reynolds all donned their purple hair proudly at Friday’s game.
   Students took a 64-37 victory against the staff.
   ”We really don’t have to let everyone know how bad we did, do we?” asked Barbara Mayer, the co-chairwoman for the relay, when discussing the faculty score.
   As of Tuesday morning, the event has 535 signed-up participants, 49 teams and raised $40,798.69, and the number continues to grow. This is the second time Florence Memorial High School is holding a Relay for Life event.
   Last year, $115,000 was raised to help support ACS. Megan Tyler, the ACS representative for Florence said the amount raised last year was over twice the amount they thought would be raised.
   Ms. Mayer said the idea started because two Florence teachers died from cancer.
   ”We wanted to do something to honor them and fight back,” she said. “That’s why we started doing relay.”
   Every hour the participants will do a different themed lap. These include the survivor and caregiver lap, “I love the ‘80s,” luminaria, fiesta lap, crazy walk, pajama party lap, bubbles lap, limbo lap, best formal wear lap, sports team lap, new tie relay, school spirit lap, capture the flag lap, quarter walk, the fight back ceremony, quitter’s lap, best patriotic outfit lap and finally the closing ceremony.
   Some of the laps will also be prize laps. An award will be given for the best team sign during the “Parade of Teams,” the best outfit for the “I love the ‘80s” lap, a prize for the best limbo-er during the limbo lap, a prize for the best outfit for the formal wear lap, a prize for the winner of the neck tie relay and a prize for the best patriotic outfit.
   ”Some of the laps last year were a little similar to this year,” Ms. Mayer said. “At 7 p.m. we do the opening ceremony and the survivor lap. I think that and the luminaria lap are the most heartfelt.”
   The survivor and caregiver lap honors those who have survived cancer and those who played a crucial role in helping those suffering. The luminaria lap is to honor those lost by cancer. Paper bags with the names of those lost are lit up around the perimeter of the track.
   Ms. Tyler said the reasons for doing relay are the survivors and those lost.
   ”Relay is to celebrate, remember and fight back,” she said. “Celebrate lives, remember loved ones lost and fight back against cancer.”
   Ms. Tyler said she was proud about how well the community came together last year for the cause.
   According to Ms. Mayer close to 60 students have signed up for relay, and they expect more before the events end. However, mostly community members participate.
   Last year, there were 75 survivors participating in relay.
   ”They will probably end up close to that, if not more, this year,” Ms. Tyler said.
   Those interested in relay can go the day of the event and sign up. It will be held from 6 p.m. April 29 to noon on April 30. Visit www.relayforlife.org/florencenj for more information.
   ”This year we will fight back,” Ms. Mayer said.