SOUTH RIVER — Two boroughs are coming together for one goal: fighting cancer.
Sayreville and South River went purple on April 28 in preparation for the upcoming Relay for Life, to be held in South River on May 18.
“The Relay committee and volunteers will provide local businesses in South River and Sayreville with purple kits with flyers, ribbons and tips to raise money and awareness about Relay For Life,” said Jennifer Barreiro, event chairwoman, in advance of the purple parade. “The South River Police [Department] will be displaying Relay for Life car magnets on their patrol cars as well to show their support.”
She added that telephone polls on South River’s Main Street would be decorated with purple ribbons as well.
This was not the first fundraising event for the 2013 event. Various fundraisers were held in the fall in support of the borough’s Relay for Life, to be held at Denny Stadium on Montgomery Street. At the event, participants will walk in support of cancer research.
“We are up two more teams from last year, and at this time [last year] we had $9,600 raised. This year, we have over $13,500,” Barreiro said.
In the days since, that number has grown to more than $20,000. Last year’s event, which had about 600 participants, raised $63,921.
The South River event, one of many held throughout the country, started in 2011 when Barreiro realized that many South River residents were participating in the East Brunswick event. East Brunswick’s 2013 event is planned for June 1 at Heavenly Farms on Dunhams Corner Road.
According to Relay for Life, the event was first held in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., when colorectal surgeon Dr. Gordy Klatt spent 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound. Klatt’s friends donated $25 to run or walk with Klatt for 30 minutes.
Barreiro said there will be cancer survivors attending the relay. These attendees will be recognized during the opening ceremonies, and a meal will be held in their honor.
Barreiro said she is looking for more local survivors to celebrate.
“They are our rock stars of the event,” she said. “Our goal is to have as many survivors at the event as possible, because it is through them that we have hope to carry on. It is through them that we know we are getting closer and closer to a world with no cancer.”
The South River Little League will play Sayreville Little League at 1 and 3 p.m. May 19 in South River, with the proceeds to be donated to Relay for Life.
For information, visit relayforlife.org and search for the South River, N.J., page. The event also has a Facebook page called “Relay for Life – South River, NJ.”
For questions, contact Barreiro at [email protected] or Kaitlyn Buffone at 732-951-6344.