Relay for Life event begins Friday

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·3 min read

Jun. 3—MANCHESTER — Many have been affected by cancer in some way, whether they have had a loved one with cancer or had it themselves.

Community members will raise awareness about cancer and raise money for cancer research and services for patients during " Relay for Life of East Central Connecticut" at Manchester Community College this weekend. The theme of the event, which is sponsored by Kloter Farms, is " Game Over, Cancer!"

It begins at 3 p. m. on Friday and ends at noon on Saturday at Manchester Community College. Event committee member Sue Nosal, who lives in Lebanon, said the event is " overwhelming," and is full of both happiness and sadness.

" It brings people back to life," she said.

Nosal said it is " uplifting" to see people smiling and hugging one another as they are walking around the track. The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6 p. m. on Friday.

There will be a " Survivor's Lap" and reception for survivors, during which there will be giveaways and more. At 9: 30 p. m. on Friday, luminaries will be lit to remember and honor lives touched by cancer. People must register for the event by Friday at 3 p. m. Speaking about how common cancer is, Nosal said two people who have been working with event organizers who recently found out they have breast cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases and 608,000 deaths in the United States in 2022.

Survivors get free T- shirts and free lunch after signing up.

Canned goods will be collected for the food pantry at Manchester Community College during the luminaria. The Meatball Bombs food truck will sell food during the event.

There will also be a relay race, scavenger hunt, showing of the movie " Jumanji," games, DJ and more. In the past, Relay for Life of Greater Windham County was held at the Eastern Connecticut State University ball field in Mansfield, but that event is no longer being held.

" We have not had it at all so our community has had to go elsewhere," Nosal said.

Nosal was involved in the Windham County Relay for many years.

She got donations from various local businesses for the Manchester event, noting that businesses were very generous. " There are some people in our community that are very good to us," Nosal said.

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She said the local businesses were very generous this year, noting that Ocean State Job Lot gave a $ 200 gift card and employees of that store also donated gift cards.

Nosal, Mansfield resident Karen Porter, Columbia resident Carolyn Beaulieu and Stafford Springs resident Donna Irish made over $ 500 together during the recent Mansfield townwide tag sale at the Mansfield Community Center in April As of early Thursday afternoon, almost $ 95 million was raised for the event.

The goal is $ 110 million. For more information, visit relayforlife. org/ ECCT. They can register in- person, online at bit. ly/ 3x107kx or by calling 1- 800- 277- 2345.

Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter-@ mwarrentc.