On June 5th, Cranford’s community came together for its 18th annual Relay for Life, uniting families and students in support of those affected by cancer and fostering hope.
Organized in the fields of Orange Avenue School, groups of Cranford citizens set up canopies, bouncy houses, and tables to represent their respective fundraising efforts. From Cranford’s Girl Scout troops, to the CHS Class of 2027, to athletic programs like CHS Boys Soccer, teams of all sizes played their part in contributing to a collective donation of $81,555 for the American Cancer Society.
While these financial contributions provide vital resources for support, they stem from profound personal connections shared by Relay for Life Caregivers. These are individuals whose lives have been emotionally touched by a cancer diagnosis of someone they know. They can be friends, family members, or even healthcare workers who provide physical and emotional support to cancer patients, and represent the most passionate and motivated fundraisers of the event. Speeches from CHS students and staff members like Charlotte DiPaolo, Adelena Paine, Kristen Shave, Antonio Papapietro, and Nicole Savino were a highlight of the night. They continue to relay the message that the event is founded on principles of hope, strength, and the belief that no human should have to face the battle with cancer alone. Their message, along with the annual survivor story, emphasizes how every voice, donation, and act of support pushes the boundaries of cancer research and care and brings our society one step closer to a future free of cancer.
A beautiful speech from a cancer survivor, Christina Colineri, was the most prominent feature of the event. Christina’s first year as a member of Relay for Life was incredibly impactful, leading her team, Christina Strong, to raise over $6,200 towards cancer funds. Nine months ago, Christina was diagnosed with gastric cancer after almost two years of searching for answers to her illness. Her new normal included biweekly visits to receive chemotherapy treatment, where she endured 8-10 hours attached to an IV and suffering through exhausting and heartbreaking side effects. As she detailed in her speech, her husband Jason and children Mason, Madalyn, and Olivia continue to be her anchor through the most challenging and overwhelming days, speaking to the power of community and love for the countless individuals who suffer from cancer diagnoses each year.
The signature Luminaria Ceremony began after sundown, where luminaria lined the makeshift track path in honor of those who have suffered or are suffering through cancer. The Ceremony, a signature element of Relay For Life across the globe, involves decorating homemade paper bags with the names of loved ones. With hundreds of bags illuminated, the Cranford community walked in a quiet, reflective silence, each small glow representing an individual whose story was forever changed by a relentless disease.
In the past eighteen years, this event has raised almost $1.5 million for cancer efforts across the United States. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life has grown into more than its simple historic walk. Since the movement’s roots were planted in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington, our Country has nurtured an opportunity to be part of a global movement of passionate supporters who strive to definitively end cancer. By channeling local grief, hope, and love into a lifetime total of $6.9 billion, events like Cranford’s Relay for Life ensure that the fight continues – advancing breakthrough research and ensuring that we walk together has proven that the dark reality of cancer can never outshine the glow of a unified community.
