MEMBERS OF THE 2023 Relay for Life Wakefield Leadership Team Elaine Silva, Cyndi Malonson and Justin Jones collect a $2,500 sponsorship donation from Raichelle Kallery (left) and Bob DiBella (right), COO & CEO of The Savings Bank.
THIS IS WAKEFIELD
Published June 1, 2023
WAKEFIELD — The 24th Annual Relay For Life of Wakefield returns to the track at Northeast Regional Metro Tech High School on Friday evening, June 16. The theme for the 2023 Relay is “Bet On Hope”. There’s still time to roll the dice at www.RelayforLife.org/WakefieldMA and join the efforts to win against cancer! Our final Captain’s meeting is Thursday evening, June 8 at The Savings Bank, 357 Main St. at 6:30 p.m.
Relay For Life is the largest annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The event aims to raise funds for cancer treatment and support by honoring and remembering those touched by the disease. The event is organized and run by a team of volunteer coordinators and this is the Wakefield event’s 24th year. The Gold Sponsors for the 2023 event include The Savings Bank and Justin Jones of Prudential Advisors in Wakefield.
WAKEFIELD RELAY FOR Life Event Leadership Team’s Dori-Ann Delatizky and Cyndi Malonson spread the word at a cloudy Lynnfield Healthy Living Expo on May 20.
The event kicks off Friday night, June 16 at 6 p.m. with Lori Gangi, lead singer of local band The Offramps, singing the national anthem before addresses from Jan Forster and Wakefield town officials. The opening ceremony includes a lap led by cancer survivors, followed by a dinner to honor them. Samy, the Wakefield PD comfort dog will be on site during this time.
At 9 p.m., the Luminaria are illuminated for all to see. Luminaria are messages of support and dedication that can be purchased online for only $10 at www.RelayForLife.org/WakefieldMA. Dozens of Luminaria have been purchased already, so don’t wait to get your messages of support in!
Teams of walkers will lap the track through the night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., in solidarity with cancer patients who are fighting through their darkest hours to the dawn of a new day. At the end of the event, walkers gather together for a final lap to collectively celebrate their fundraising efforts.
STUDENTS FROM NORTHEAST Regional Metro Tech celebrate setting up the Hope Arch the morning before the 2019 Relay For Life.
In addition to walking, teams raise funds with fun activities through the night, like a midnight Bingo game supported by local Wakefield businesses, a police K9 demonstration, frozen T-shirt contest, a cornhole tournament, live bands and collecting lap beads to mark their progress through the night. Teams also prepare raffle prize baskets and tickets can be purchased from 5 to 11:30 p.m. Friday with drawings just before midnight.
Wakefield Relay For Life raised $78,000 in 2022 in their first in-person event since 2019 and have raised $32,000 toward this year’s fundraising goal of $80,000.
To join the event as an individual, team or cancer survivor or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.RelayForLife.org/WakefieldMA. For additional information, contact event lead Justin Jones at Justin.Jones@Prudential.com.
MEMBERS OF THE WAKEFIELD Relay For Life Event Leadership team served dinner and played Bingo with cancer patients at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Boston.
