Hundreds Uniting for Paramus' First Town-Wide Cancer Fight

More than 400 people are ready to head to Paramus High School track next weekend to take part in the first community-wide effort to fight cancer and raise awareness.

Relay for Life, the signature fundraiser event for the American Cancer Society, is set for Friday, June 14 into Saturday, June 15. A overnight event to show that cancer never sleeps, according to Erika DiPasquale, the event chair.

Although there have been other Relay for Life events in Paramus such as the annual Paramus Catholic High School's event and the West Brook Middle School Relay Field Day, this will be the first community-wide event. As of last week more than 400 people had already signed up and 44 teams registered.

Community groups have been encouraged to organize their own teams and there are several like the Mayor and Council, many departments in town, the Paramus School District administrators and teachers, Paramus Rotary, sports teams, the marching band, clubs and countless families, DiPasquale tells Patch.

More than $40,000 has already been raised towards the $50,000 goal and there is still one week til the event.

"Once we reach that amount we will not stop, because every dollar counts," says DiPasquale.

Tons of local businesses are contributing to this event. DiPasquale says Bahama Breeze is donating a free dinners to every cancer survivor present at Relay plus one caregiver.  Several businesses are donating food - Moe's Southwest Grill, King Pizza, LaBella Roma, Anthony Franco's, The Fireplace, Casella Foods, Chick-Filet, Starbucks, BJs and Shop Rite, says DiPasquale.

The overnight event which begins at 7 p.m. Friday and will end 7 a.m. Saturday has three main components - Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back.

To "celebrate"  cancer survivors will be recognized at the start of the ceremonies taking the first lap in the survivors lap. Caregivers will then join the survivors in the second lap.

"Relay is a means to celebrate thsoe who have ever ben there to support and help a cancer patient as well," she says.

The rememberance part will be during the Luminaria Ceremony at 10 p.m. where where Luminaria bags each decorated and dedicated in honor of a cancer victim or cancer survivor will surround the track illuminated with electronic candles.

To show the fighting back, the commitee has planned special fight-back laps for the five most common cancers - skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and colo cancer. During these laps there will be speakers who will educate and provide information and prevention tips about each of these forms of the disease.

Throughout the night there will be many fun activities including a Lady Spartan Pageant fundraiser where male participants can dress up as Lady Spartans. Participants can make donations to the pageant contestants they like best, she says.

Races, tug of war, Tricky and Tray and more activities are planned. DiPasquale says DJ services will be provided by Pat Verile and Rich LaBarbiera throughout the night.

"The goal of Relay is to achieve that day when no one will have to hear the dreadful words 'you have cancer'," says DiPasquale.

She is very grateful to all the sponsors and the support of the committee members and community. She noted Superintendent of Schools Ken Rota and Michael Pilacik, high school vice principal, for helping to support the effort as well as the Paramus Buildings and Grounds.

She credits Paramus resident Denise Andersen, who is the vice president of the American Cancer Society, for her enthusiam and passion which inspired the community to get his event together.

For more information on the Relay, to sign up and make a donation visit the website.