Relay for Life back at Catan Stadium with new date
American Cancer Society fundraiser moved to early June
The Strongsville Relay for Life will return to Pat Catan Stadium after a one-year absence due to installation of field turf at the high school facility. The cancer awareness and fundraising event also has a new date, as the event will take place June 3-4, a departure from its usual mid-May timeframe. File photo by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVILLE – The Strongsville Relay for Life will have a different theme, look and feel to it in 2017 as announced during the event’s kick off party at BW3 the evening of Feb. 9.
The local American Cancer Society fundraiser and awareness event is moving from its normal mid-May timeframe to the first weekend in June (3-4) in an attempt to gain some warmer temperatures and more sunshine than what was experienced last year when the event had to be cut short due to cold temperatures and a steady bone-chilling rain to match.
The “Luau for Life,” a Hawaiian-themed approach to the event, will return to Strongsville High School’s Pat Catan Stadium following a one-year absence. Relay for Life was held on the grounds of Albion Middle School in 2016, while new field turf was installed at the high school stadium.
Even though rain, cold and wind was a constant in 2016, organizers persevered. Twenty-five teams raised a combined $118,945, the highest dollar amount in the history of the event.
Teams raised money in a variety of fashions. Thanks to the dollars raised there were:
• 12,900 requests from cancer patients, caregivers and others provided via a 24/7 hotline, caner.org or online chat
• 5,400 patients were provided rides to and from treatment through the Road to Recovery program
• 868 survivors received a night of free lodging when traveling away from home at the Hope Lodge facility, providing 10,003 free nights, along with 888 caregivers
• 2,400 patients received help through health care systems by working with a patient navigator.
The 2017 Strongsville Relay for Life not only has a date and venue change, but also has a different feel, as its heart and soul, Becky Zunt, lost a valiant battle with cancer this past November. She is never far from the thoughts of event organizers.
“Becky still is the heart and soul of this relay. She was our motivator and had a vision,” said Theresa Wise, co-event lead. “This year and going forward we are carrying on that vision, which was to make this relay one where people could come and feel at home.”
The more money raised means the more funds can be donated, but that’s not the overriding motivator for hosting Relay for Life.
“It’s not about the money. We’re going to raise money for research because that’s important but Becky wanted this to be a place where people could have fun and realize they’re not alone,” Wise said.
“Becky was our inspiration and that hasn’t stopped. She always did so much,” said co-chair Kim Klefman.
Honorary survivors
Kathy Beda is one of two honorary survivors. Her lifelong journey with cancer began in February 1976 when her brother, Rickie, was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 24. The disease claimed her brother in August of that year.
Beda’s son, Sean, was a sophomore at Trinity High School when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the fall of 1994. Today he is a 38-year-old cancer survivor and an RN at the Cleveland Clinic Tausig Cancer Center.
If Beda’s brother and son’s battles with the disease weren’t enough, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2002. After undergoing 31 radiation treatments, in addition to surgery, today she is cancer free.
The second honorary survivor is a juvenile and at the wishes of the family would like to remain anonymous.
Registration/opening ceremony
Registration for the 2017 Strongsville Relay for Life takes place at 10 a.m. at Strongsville High School. The event will kick off on June 3 with a survivor’s lunch inside the school’s cafeteria at 11:30 a.m.
The opening ceremony takes place at Catan Stadium at 1 p.m. with a survivor’s lap around the track.
This year’s organizers are Suzi Piskur (American Cancer Society community manager), Jason Glover (co-event lead), Mark Fabian (chair, sponsorship), Debra Szekely (chair, entertainment), Klefman and Wise.
Visit www.relayforlife.org/strongsville to join a team, donate or for more information.
The local American Cancer Society fundraiser and awareness event is moving from its normal mid-May timeframe to the first weekend in June (3-4) in an attempt to gain some warmer temperatures and more sunshine than what was experienced last year when the event had to be cut short due to cold temperatures and a steady bone-chilling rain to match.
The “Luau for Life,” a Hawaiian-themed approach to the event, will return to Strongsville High School’s Pat Catan Stadium following a one-year absence. Relay for Life was held on the grounds of Albion Middle School in 2016, while new field turf was installed at the high school stadium.
Even though rain, cold and wind was a constant in 2016, organizers persevered. Twenty-five teams raised a combined $118,945, the highest dollar amount in the history of the event.
Teams raised money in a variety of fashions. Thanks to the dollars raised there were:
• 12,900 requests from cancer patients, caregivers and others provided via a 24/7 hotline, caner.org or online chat
• 5,400 patients were provided rides to and from treatment through the Road to Recovery program
• 868 survivors received a night of free lodging when traveling away from home at the Hope Lodge facility, providing 10,003 free nights, along with 888 caregivers
• 2,400 patients received help through health care systems by working with a patient navigator.
The 2017 Strongsville Relay for Life not only has a date and venue change, but also has a different feel, as its heart and soul, Becky Zunt, lost a valiant battle with cancer this past November. She is never far from the thoughts of event organizers.
“Becky still is the heart and soul of this relay. She was our motivator and had a vision,” said Theresa Wise, co-event lead. “This year and going forward we are carrying on that vision, which was to make this relay one where people could come and feel at home.”
The more money raised means the more funds can be donated, but that’s not the overriding motivator for hosting Relay for Life.
“It’s not about the money. We’re going to raise money for research because that’s important but Becky wanted this to be a place where people could have fun and realize they’re not alone,” Wise said.
“Becky was our inspiration and that hasn’t stopped. She always did so much,” said co-chair Kim Klefman.
Honorary survivors
Kathy Beda is one of two honorary survivors. Her lifelong journey with cancer began in February 1976 when her brother, Rickie, was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 24. The disease claimed her brother in August of that year.
Beda’s son, Sean, was a sophomore at Trinity High School when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the fall of 1994. Today he is a 38-year-old cancer survivor and an RN at the Cleveland Clinic Tausig Cancer Center.
If Beda’s brother and son’s battles with the disease weren’t enough, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2002. After undergoing 31 radiation treatments, in addition to surgery, today she is cancer free.
The second honorary survivor is a juvenile and at the wishes of the family would like to remain anonymous.
Registration/opening ceremony
Registration for the 2017 Strongsville Relay for Life takes place at 10 a.m. at Strongsville High School. The event will kick off on June 3 with a survivor’s lunch inside the school’s cafeteria at 11:30 a.m.
The opening ceremony takes place at Catan Stadium at 1 p.m. with a survivor’s lap around the track.
This year’s organizers are Suzi Piskur (American Cancer Society community manager), Jason Glover (co-event lead), Mark Fabian (chair, sponsorship), Debra Szekely (chair, entertainment), Klefman and Wise.
Visit www.relayforlife.org/strongsville to join a team, donate or for more information.