Relay For Life Of Northport To Benefit American Cancer Society

NORTHPORT, NY — Relay for Life of Northport is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday into Sunday at Northport High School, at 154 Laurel Hill Road, according to the American Cancer Society.

Money raised will support the American Cancer Society's mission to end cancer.

The event will go on, rain or shine, because "cancer doesn't stop for rain and neither will we," the society stated.

The Relay for Life movement has continuously been fundraising for 40 years, bringing people together to raise money against cancer into the early morning hours.

"While Cancer has been devastating lives for far longer than [40 years], we will not stop until it does," Ali Camp, the event's manager, told Patch. "Cancer never sleeps, so neither will we."

More information and pre-registration can be found here.

Registration for the event opens at 4 p.m.

The Northport High School marching band is set to take the field for the opening ceremony.

Guest speakers will include Jessica Hayes and Jenine Saccente.

Hayes, a Northport High School graduate of 1992, has participated in Relay For Life since 2015. Hayes was a caregiver for her mom, Chris Hammer, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2018. Hammer died on April 1 surrounded by her Mooma Support Squad.

Saccente is the mother of Aidan Fischer, a 23-year-old Northport HS class of 2019 graduate who died of leukemia at the age of 23 on April 18. Saccente plans to launch Aidan's Army Foundation, and an inaugural fundraiser raised nearly $12K.

There will also be field activities, a scavenger hunt, a luminaria ceremony, a Zumba dance party, a midnight movie, 3 a.m. pancakes, and a closing ceremony.

"There's just something so special about the luminaria ceremony," Camp said. "Once it gets dark, as you walk the track, you see all the lit up luminarias, dedicated to those lost to cancer. It’s a powerful reminder of why we fight."

Attendees can start raising funds as soon as they register.

Food pass goods will be provided by Arizona Iced Tea, Jersey Mike's and Ralph's, Mario's Pizza, and Shrimpy's.

Attendees are asked to raise $100 to stay overnight, reach $150 for a Food Lap pass, and raise $175 for a Games pass.