A Sea of Purple, a Sea of Strength

“It’s probably the biggest community event in Wilton. I can't thnk of anything larger,” said former honorary Relay chair Sara Augenbraun of Wilton’s Relay for Life, which takes place  7 p.m. this Friday, March 13, at the Wilton High School's track. 

For the uninitiated, the Relay for Life is an annual rain-or-shine charity event formed to help battle cancer through raising donations and awareness. Participants register to be a part of a team, and for 24 hours that team must have one person walking on the track, symbolic of the ever-waging war against the disease. Participants are encouraged to raise money for the event, and tents are set up for overnight use to accommodate the 24-hour theme. Survivors are given a purple shirt, while team captains are given blue shirts.

As of this writing, 77 teams have signed up for the Relay, and Augenbraun said about 770 people have registered to attend the event. However, she expects more people to show up on the day of, and anticipates a crowd of around 1,000 people.

“So many businesses donate items which are given out at the Survivor’s Dinner,” said Augenbraun, who was awarded the Honorary Chair of Relay for Life three years ago and now is an active member of the fundraiser. The dinner begins at 5 p.m. and all cancer survivors are invited to come.

“We’ve raised over $95,000 online,” said Augenbraun. This doesn’t include corporate sponsorship and offline donations; including them, Augenbraun expects the 2011 Relay will bring in well over $100,000.

“Considering the economy, this is just wonderful,” she said. The event extends through Saturday. 

And then there’s this unusual twist: cancer survivor and teacher-of-the year , 32, and Paulo Bernardo, 33, will be getting married on Friday at the Relay. Patch will have the full, heart-tingling  romance story tomorrow morning.  

“This should bring a whole new aspect to the race. Everyone is very excited,” said Augenbraun.

The newly-wedded - and apparently tireless - Waring will host an early-morning activity on Saturday called “Make More Birthdays,” where she will stand in the middle of a circle formed by those who have stayed overnight. Holding a microphone, Waring will talk about her struggles with cancer, and then pass it off to every single person there so they may speak as well.

Yet before the Saturday morning session, two talented teenagers will have spoken about their struggles with cancer.

“This year we will be having young people speaking about the affects of cancer,”  said Augenbraun.

At this year’s Relay, in addition to speakers such as Wilton’s First Selectman Bill Brennan and a medical professional from Norwalk Hospital, two Wilton High School students will tell their cancer-related life stories.  Mike Francia, a twelfth grader, will speak as a survivor; Francia battled cancer and came out on top, and is also a talented lacrosse athlete. Also speaking will be Morgan Denslow, a ninth grader who will be speaking as a caregiver and also singing at the relay. Denslow’s father succumbed to cancer last year.

“It will be tough, I think, [and] very, very, touching,” said Augenbraun.

Included below is an event schedule for Friday through early Saturday, as provided for by the Relay’s organizers.

3:00- Campsites and Registration Open
3:00- 5:30- Kids Care -activities/games for K-5
4-7 - Pantene Beautiful Lengths Hair Cutting - girls/ women may come and have their hair cut to help make wigs for cancer patients.
5:00- Survivor and Caregiver Dinner ( by invitation)
5:15 Relay Talent featuring some of Wilton’s top up and coming talent
6:30- Joan Wallace and the Wilton Congregational Church Contemporary Band
7:00 Opening Ceremony – including Boy Scout Troop 125, First Selectman William Brennan, Honorary
Chairs- Morgan Denslow and Mike Francia, Norwalk Hospital Dr.
7:20- Survivor Lap/Survivor Caregiver Lap/ /Walk with a Hero- Wilton Fire Dept/Cert/EMT
8:00- Wedding Ceremony of Danielle Waring and Paulo Bernardo
8:30 Acoustic Wilton
9:00 –Luminaria Ceremony – walking in candlelight in honor of loved ones
9:45-Bob's Your Uncle
10:45- Heatherbird
11:30- Circuit
Midnight: Fight Back Ceremony
12:15 Zumba
12:30-2am- Coffeehouse in Survivor Tent: Chris Dehn, Annie Diamond, Austin Schaefer,Emily Lutz,
Liane Knapp
1:00 am- Reef
2:00 am- Downstairs Mix Up Ryan Amodei
3:00 Stand Up Comedy Improv
5:30- Sunrise “ Why I Relay “Ceremony and Final Lap

All evening: field games, silent auction,contests, music, events at team tents.

Donation information and further scheduling can be found at the Relay's website.