Relay for Life event planned for weekend

By Linda M. Linonis

Music, youth activities and food play a big part.

NEW MIDDLETOWN — For two women involved in this weekend’s Relay for Life at Springfield High School, the American Cancer Society fundraiser is a fun- and music-filled community event with an underlying seriousness.

Betsy Fiedorczyk, who is coordinating the music, got involved because a friend has cancer. “You feel helpless,” she said, but noted volunteering at the event was one way to help the effort.

Carol Sagnano, co-chairwoman with Casey Kissel, said she has multiple family members diagnosed with the disease and she had breast cancer. “There’s a lot of cancer in my family,” Sagnano said, noting that three were diagnosed in one year. “This is something I can do to help them and others who are affected by this disease.”

The event starts with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. today at the high school stadium, 11333 Youngstown-Pittsburgh Road, followed by a survivors’ lap. A candlelight ceremony will be at 9:30 to remember those who lost their lives and as a tribute to survivors. Activities conclude at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Fiedorczyk, who owns Legacy Productions and works in local radio, said she used her connections with performers to arrange to have them perform. She said Friday’s music will be Glory Bound, a gospel group, at 7, Alexis Antes and Robin Stone of Cleveland, soloists, at 8:30 and Lee Sheehan Band at 10. “We’ll also have an all-night DJ,” she said of Nick@night, who will play music from midnight to 9 a.m. Saturday.

The Christian band, Power of Praise, will get things rolling at 10 a.m. Saturday followed by Leanne Binder, who just released the country CD “Done Looking Back,” and Fiedorczyk’s all-woman band, A Little Left of Center, at 2. There will be plenty of food and youth activities from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday to occupy participants.

Maureen Reynolds is the American Cancer Society staff partner in the regional office in Canfield that covers 13 counties in Northeast Ohio. She said the New Middletown Relay for Life has 15 teams signed up with some 450 participants.