CORTLAND First of Cancer Society races raises $75,000 at Lakeview High

The second of Trumbull County's three relays is at Bo Rein Stadium in Niles this weekend.
CORTLAND -- More than 400 volunteers circled the Lakeview High School track over the weekend, raising $75,000 in the first of a half-dozen Mahoning Valley Relay for Life fund-raisers for the American Cancer Society.
Officials expect to collect more than $1 million by the time the last relay is walked June 8-9 in East Liverpool.
"It is incredible," said Al Stabilito, communications director for the Mahoning Valley American Cancer Society.
State's largest relay: The Warren relay at Kent State University Trumbull Campus May 18 to19 is the largest in the state, estimated to bring in $400,000, local officials said.
Last year, Trumbull County ranked second in the state in money raised. The three Trumbull relays are in Cortland, Warren and in Bo Rein Stadium in Niles. This year's Niles relay is Friday and Saturday.
The 24-hour events not only memorialize people who have died of cancer, but also celebrate the victories of cancer survivors.
They have a festival atmosphere. In Cortland, some of the 26 teams sponsored face-painting, games and raffles at tents pitched inside the track.
Between serious moments -- the invocation at 6 p.m. and a candlelight service at 9:15 -- were performances by a rock band and local Elvis impersonator.
Maplewood High School sponsored hot air balloon rides.
The teams are asked to raise at least $1,000 to participate and some raise much more. The money comes from corporate and individual donations and such local efforts as candy bar sales, dress-down days and even dances.
Organizers expect 155 teams for the Warren relay. After all their tents have been pitched, the infield of the KSU Trumbull track "looks like a little condo community," Stabilito said.
The Boardman relay, scheduled the same weekend at Boardman Center Middle School, has also been highly successful, last year ranking as the second-largest in the state, Stabilito said. The Columbiana relay in Firestone Park also is May 18 to19.
Another relay will be at Austintown Fitch High School this Friday and Saturday.
More than 70 percent of the money raised goes by the American Cancer Society is spent on research, education initiatives and patient services, Stabilito said.