Members Boy Scout Troop 37 normally helped with the set-up and cleanup for the Orangetown Relay for life, but when someone they all knew was diagnosed with cancer, Conor Russo wanted to do more.
Russo, a 15-year-old sophomore at Tappan Zee High School, formed Rachel's Super Awesome Squad in honor of 18-year-old Rachel Reichner, who has bone cancer, to take part in this year's Orangetown Relay for Life, which will begin 7 p.m. Friday on the Central Ave. Field in Pearl River and end at 7 a.m. Saturday morning.
"We normally go to the Relay for Life to help out and set up," Russo said. "This year, because of the circumstances, I thought it would be a good idea to form a team and participate. Almost everyone on the team has had a relative with cancer. Now with Rachel, we all have a friend who has cancer."
Registration is ongoing and participants an sign up the day of the event, which exists to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. As of Wednesday morning, Rachel's Super Awesome Squad led the pre-registered teams in donations raised with $2,559. The team is made up mostly from Troop 37, which meets in nearby Pearl River United Methodist Church. Russo said he expects the team to show up around 4 p.m. to help with set-up.
"I'm going to be there the whole night," Russo said. "Most of us are. Some can't stay the entire time."
The event will kick off with a Survivor's Lap at 7 p.m. Cancer survivors and their caregivers are invited to walk the track at that time. They will hold a Luminaria Ceremony at 9 p.m. in honor of those who have been lost to cancer. Around those events will be entertainment including a clown with balloons for at least the first hour, face painting from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., live music, sports activities for kids organized by Clarkstown South Track Coach Ray Kondracki and the frisbee game Kan Jam.
The Rockland Boulders' mascot, Boulder Bird, is expected to arrive at 7:30 p.m. to sign autographs and there will be a showing of the movie "Shrek" at approximately 10 p.m. on a big screen along with some surprise entertainment.
For more information or to register for the Orangetown Relay for Life, go to the event website here.
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