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Overcast Community comes out for Baldwin Relay
“It’s been an amazing day with many beautiful moments,” said Marie Burns, one of the Relay For Life of Baldwin chairs, “[and] beautiful stories about survivors [and] people who have already gotten their wings.”
Burns said the local Relay event at Baldwin Park on June 13 started off slow due to the heat, but once it started to cool off later that evening, people made their way to the park. There were many activities, including relay races, Zumba and face painting, in addition to performances from groups from both the school district and the community.
“The amazing thing about it is they all donate their times and they all just give of themselves,” Burns said.
There was an especially large turnout for the silent lap toward the end of the night, said Burns, who Relays for her sister, a good friend that died and for everyone who is affected.
Abby Melendez, a 17-year survivor of thyroid cancer, said she participates in Relay for many reasons, including family members who have been diagnosed, her husband and herself. Melendez said she has found a need to help others who suffer from it as well.
Both she and her husband, Miguel, who is a six-year survivor, agreed that the event is an important one and that there should be more awareness about it among community members. Both said they would like to see the event moved back to the high school because that would hopefully bring back more participants as well. The event was held at the high school for first five years of Relay in Baldwin, but has been in Baldwin Park for the last two.
However, the event still raised a total of nearly $30,000. Team Because We Care raised about $15,000, team Mary Sunshine tallied $1,800 and team Butterflies of Hope contributed $1,6000 in donations to the American Cancer Society.
Burns, who was a member of Because We Care, said she hopes that one day the American Cancer Society raises enough to help find a cure and put an end to cancer and the need for Relay for Life.
