Orangetown Battles Cancer With Relay For Life

As late as Friday morning, the forecast called for rain storms that would threaten to force the 2013 Orangetown Relay for Life indoors.

With the normal indoor site, Pearl River High School's back gym set up for Regents, that would have meant taking the American Cancer Society event to Franklin Ave. Elementary School.

"Even this morning they were saying it was going to be pretty bad, but I was doing my rain, rain, go away dances and prayers and the rain did stay away and the weather was perfect for tonight," Bourke said.

The relatively clear skies and lack of rain cleared the way for hundreds of participants to file onto Pearl River's Central Ave. Field for the annual event that celebrates cancer survivors, honors the memory of those lost to the disease and raises money for the American Cancer Society.

"I think the weather may have been a factor in the number of people who showed up," Bourke said. "Going in, we had about 200 people regiestered and I think we easily had another hundred walk up and register. And if you look around, there are an awful lot of people here tonight celebrating and joining  us in the fight against cancer."

The Relay for Life began with the survivor's lap for those cancer survivors and patients and their care givers. As the sun went down, there was a Luminaria walk with candles lighting the way.

Many of the participants were children who took advantage of activities such as face painting, athletic games organized by Clarkstown South Track Coach Ray Kondracki, dancing and meeting the Rockland Boulder's Mascot. There was also a kids' lap. Those who stayed later saw "Shrek" on a big screen set up on the baseball field backstop.

Most of the participants were from Orangetown, though there was a team from Clarkstown South. The top fundraising team going into the event was Rachel's Super Awesome Squad, made up mostly of Troop 37 boy scouts, but those numbers would have changed with the donations that came in Friday night.

Team Carolyn was the largest pre-registered team in terms of numbers of participants, with the Pearl River High School football team also bringing a large presence with 32 players who helped raise over $1,000.

"They understand they have to give back to the community," Pearl River football Head Coach Jeff Michael said. "It's not forced. They want to. They realize there is a world out there that they have to get involved in. They understand it is about more than just Facebook, Twitter, TV and pizza. They are great kids."

The family-friendly event continues until 7 a.m. Saturday.