Kids & Family
VIDEO: 2012 New Lenox Relay for Life Fights Cancer, Rain
Find out how the 2012 New Lenox Relay for Life still went on as planned, despite inclimate weather at Lincoln-Way West.
The weather moved the 2012 New Lenox Relay for Life into the gym instead of its scheduled location on the football field on Friday, July 13. But participants didn't let the rain dampen their spirits.
"It is crowded in here," Mayor Tim Baldermann said, inside the Lincoln-Way West gym, to the hundreds of participants gathered around the indoor track. "It is hot. And it's already starting to smell like sweaty (body odor). But that is nothing compared to what (cancer survivors) have gone through."
Relay for Life events are held in different communities across the country to help people cope with those who they have lost to cancer, celebrate people that won their battle with the disease and raise money to find a cure.
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After a slight delay to start the event that was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., Don Hullinger gave the opening speech. "I've seen a lot of T-shirts out here tonight that say cancer sucks," the chair of the luminaria said. "I'd like to add to that: the weather sucks."
Next, the mother, daughter team that correlated the event of Terri Murphy and Erin Okrzesik thanked all of the people that made the event possible, along with Lincoln-Way West for helping the event continue without losing momentum.
Find out what's happening in New Lenoxwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Cancer survivors in attendance walked the first lap of the relay around the gym's indoor track, before stepping outside to release balloons together into the evening sky painting an image of unity.
"The support groups here are fantastic, and I commend them for being here to help us," said cancer survivor Naomi Nagy of Mokena.
While participants took turns walking the track throughout the relay, there were also music, food and entertainment. Part of that entertainment was in the form of games being held by volunteers in which, the money given to play them, was donated to charity.
"It's a good way to make some money for a great cause," said Scott Pedciwiater, who helped run one of the many games.
Later in the night, a slideshow was displayed listing more than 300 names that had been taken away from this world by cancer.
Participants stayed in the gym until 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, July 14 supporting the fight against cancer.
LAST YEAR'S COVERAGE
