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Poland Relay for Life a success with $52,000 raised
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Neighbors | Submitted.Participants walk to survivor's lap during the Relay for Life event in Poland. The event was July 11-12 at Poland Seminary High School.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Several women practice yoga during the 24-hour Relay for Life event, which was July 11-12 at Poland Seminary High School.
By TIM CLEVELAND
As part of its continuing efforts to raise money to battle cancer, Poland Relay for Life hosted an event on July 11-12 at Poland Seminary High School.
The event had 300-400 participants, plus 65 cancer survivors participate in a variety of events and activities.
Poland Relay for Life raised $52,000, well on its way toward its goal of $65,000 which was raised last year. Event chairwoman Stefanie Sobinovsky said more funds are expected in the next few weeks as various fundraisers are wrapping up.
Activities were put on every hour of the 24-hour event, including entertainment [Obsidian, a local band and guitar with Leo – a local singer/guitar player], a boxcar race, a cornhole tournament, a pickle spitting contest, night owl bingo, as well as larger activities such as a Survivor dinner provided by Elm Tree Catering and Luminaria Ceremony honoring cancer survivors and the memories of those that have been lost to cancer.
“I feel our event was very successful this year,” Sobinovsky said. “We made a lot of changes to the set up and ceremonies this year and still have some tweaks to make to get the event exactly to where we want it to be. However, we all came together to share memories, emotions and support. This year we weren’t just a group of people pulling off an event, we were a family. We laughed, we cried, we hugged and loved, and that is what made our event a huge success.”
Since Poland Relay for Life was founded in 2008, the organization has hosted many successful events. Sobinovsky said she expects that success to continue in the future.
“Poland Relay will continue to grow as people learn what we are about and see that we are a group of people and an event that is open to anyone and everyone,” she said. “We are a support group, we are a force that is creating a world with more birthdays and bringing this world closer to never having to hear the word cancer again.”