Bristol-Plainville Relay For Life Exceeds Its Fundraising Goals

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

June 9, 2022

The Bristol-Plainville Relay for Life far exceeded its fundraising goals this past Saturday at Norton Park.

The relay for life saw thirty-eight teams walk continuously around Norton Park Saturday into Sunday over a period of 24 hours because "cancer never sleeps." The intent of the annual event is to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society to help fight cancer.

The goal this year was for teams to raise a combined $120,000. When all was said and done, the teams brought in a total of $146,746.36.

"It was awesome," said Luisa Gladu, who headed the team for Prospect United Methodist Church. "We couldn't have asked for better weather and we got a great turnout."

This year was the first year that individual teams were recognized.

Prospect United Methodist Church received the "Best Site" award for their "Magical Bakery" booth at the event. The team also donned Harry Potter themed costumes during one of their laps.

“The PUMC Booth was awarded The Best Site Award, and it is all due to the hard work of Scott McNeal, as it was his vision and design that made our booth stand out,” said Gladu. “It took more than 12 hours to make a booth look like you stepped onto a movie set, which it did, and we heard that comment at least 100 times. And, not only that, but Scott and his wife Cheryl were responsible for the delicious amazing baked goods. Everything we offered was made from scratch.”

Prospect United Methodist Church has also already exceeded its individual team goal for fundraising. They hoped to raise $3,000 this year and, so far, have brought in $4,808. Teams will continue to raise funds for the American Cancer Society through August.

“Scott & Cheryl McNeal, and the donations of baking supplies from our church family PUMC’s Magical Bakery raised a total of $1,363,” said Gladu. “Our goal for Relay was $1,000 so we were pleased to have exceeded that goal. We literally sold out of everything we brought to the event! Our overall team goal was $3,000 and as of today we have raised $4,808 bringing our team status to Silver. We have until August to raise money and accept donations and I’m told all we need is $192 to make it to gold status, which means your team has raised $5,000.”

Gladu is herself a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed in 2013 and has been in remission for eight years. She began walking in the Relay for Life 12 years ago with her mother. Her mother had battled cancer for 25 years before dying in 2015. Gladu now walks in her memory.

"She used to say ‘I have cancer, but it doesn’t have me,'" said Gladu.

Last year’s event was the first which saw the Bristol and Plainville events combine. That year, the teams raised a combined $104,139 coming out of the pandemic.

Each year, the Relay for Life includes a ceremony to honor survivors and caregivers as well as a remembrance ceremony to memorialize those lost to cancer.

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.