Hundreds Will Walk To Help Cure Cancer At Wayne Relay For Life

WAYNE, NJ — Hundreds of people will walk around the track at Wayne Valley High School next week for the township's annual Relay For Life fundraiser.

The 13-hour-long event raises tens, sometimes hundreds, of thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society. It is organized and run completely by a Wayne committee of students from both high schools, with oversight from Cori Mastropolo with the American Cancer Society.

Sometimes hundreds of people walk around the track, sometimes just a few. But someone is always walking, which signifies the ongoing battle people wage against cancer. So far more than 600 people have registered to walk this year.

Related: Wayne Relay For Life Raises $134,000 For The American Cancer Society

"Every time I go to a committee meeting, I can see the passion and determination in these kids. They are so inspiring," Mastropolo said. "It is amazing watching them grow throughout the entire year of. They realize the impact the event has on everybody."

Cancer survivors and their caregivers will be the first to walk a lap around the track.

When it gets dark, candles or glow sticks are put in white bags that are placed around the track. Personal messages from participants, sometimes in memory of a loved one or friend who died of cancer, are written on the bags.

A very moving part of the event is the luminaria ceremony at 11 p.m. The lights are shut off as participants walk around the track, many in silence.

The event begins at 4 p.m. May 18. The goal is to raise $115,000. Nearly $71,000 has been donated to date.

For more information, to make a donation, or to register to participate, click here.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com