"Relay for Life" Shows One Person Can Make a Difference

Never underestimate the power of one. Or the power of two. On the eve of the Port Chester Rye Brook Relay for Life event, the American Cancer Society's signature fundraiser, the difference an individual, a couple, or a team of young people can make is undeniable.

A quick check of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event page for the Port Chester and Rye Brook reveals that funds raised have taken a leap in the past 48 hours. 

On Tuesday the original goal of $60,000 for the event had already been exceeded and stood at approximately $75,534.85. On Thursday, just 48 hours later, the cumulative total stood at over $90,000, and the number of participants had jumped in two days from 502 to 547.

If anyone questions that one person can make a difference, there is the story of Jim and Denise Poulin, a Mohegan Lake Couple who raised $200,000 for Relay for Life over the course of 20 years.

Years ago the couple's niece Sarah was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She  was just 3 months old. She had a bone marrow transplant and did well for a little while, but she died at the age of 2.  

The Poulins joined their first Relay event in 2007.  These days the Poulins visit multiple Relays every year and have raised money by holding bake sales, selling handmade Hope bracelets at flea markets, and selling Luminaries.

The Port Chester and Rye Brook Relay event kicks off on Saturday at 6:00PM. Here is a schedule of the overnight event.

• Survivor Reception - dinner for all cancer survivors & their caregivers -Saturday, Survivor Tent - 6:00PM 
• Opening Ceremony - Survivor Speech, Awards & Recognition, Survivor Lap, Caregiver Lap, Team Lap - Main Stage - 7:00PM
• Luminaria Ceremony - Ceremony to remember those lost and affected by cancer - Main Stage/Track - 10:00PM 
• Fight Back Ceremony - Make a pledge to fight cancer year round, cancer trivia games - Main Stage - 12:30AM 
• Closing Ceremony - Closing Remarks, Final fundraising totals - Main Stage - 6:30AM