The rain held down attendance for the second annual Orangetown American Cancer Society Relay For Life June 18 at Pearl River's Center Avenue Field.
The event still raised $65,000 to be used to help in the fight against cancer according to event co-chairman and Rockland County Legislator John Murphy (R-Pearl River).
"We had over 1,200 attendees," Murphy said. "We had 600 walkers all together. We got 200 emails from epople who were spooked by the weather and apologize and cancelled, so that impacted us a lot."
Heavy rain hit the area earlier in the afternoon, but stopped in time for the evening's walk despite a forecast of more showers. Murphy said the highlight of the event came for those who waited well after sundown. The candles were lit in honor of cancer survivors and those who were lost to the disease.
"Everybody considered the Luminaria Walk to be the dramatic highlight for the evening," Murphy said. "Everybody was on the field. We put out all the lights except the candles. Everybody walked around to a solemn accompaniment of a single violin."
