The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY (February 4, 2013) – The dining room at New Hope Community in Loch Sheldrake was a sea of purple on Friday, February 1, at the Sullivan County Relay for Life Annual Kickoff Rally and Dinner.

It was a full house at New Hope’s Maxie’s Place, where friends, families and team members gathered to rally support for the June 1 and 2 event at Sullivan County Community College (the site host) in Loch Sheldrake. The rally/dinner was sponsored by New Hope Community. Additional sponsors for the event are: Crystal Run Healthcare (Presenting Sponsor), Hurleyville Fire Department (Tent & Meeting Sponsor), and Thunder 102 (Media Sponsor). Sound music and video equipment were provided by Night Light DJs.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the American Cancer Society and the 17th anniversary of the Sullivan County Relay for Life.

In their introductory remarks, Relay co-chairs Rhonda Hough (left in photo) and Gayle Irving (at right) talked about the beginnings of the event and the purpose of the rally.

Guest speakers included Wendy Stickley-Ocker, the American Cancer Society’s Patient and Family Services Manager; Bronte Hough the 2008 Relay Grand Marshall and cancer survivor; Dr. Manuel Perry from Crystal Run Healthcare; and Tina Eckert, American Cancer Society Director of Special Events.

The Kickoff included a Grand Marshall Recognition, which included introductions of the 2012 Cancer Survivor Grand Marshalls – Penny Carman and Ellen Rose Duffy, and the 2013 Cancer Survivor Grand Marshalls Kara Passante and 4-year-old Anthony Mongiello Jr. Also introduced were 2012 Caregiver Grand Marshall Geri Neumann-Duffy and 2013 Caregiver Grand Marshalls Craig Passante and AnnaRose Mongiello (at left in top photo with her brother Anthony Mongiello Jr).

Following the introductions, the 2012 Grand Marshalls transferred their sashes to their 2013 counterparts.

Emotional speeches were a part of the evening as survivors and caregivers such as Kara and Craig Passante (photo left) spoke about the devastating effects of the disease.

Team and participant awards were then handed out by the co-chairs, and decorated Luminaria bags were placed at the edges of the room.

All survivors were asked to participate in a lap around the room, and the evening ended with everyone present doing one lap as the Luminaria continued to glow with their messages of hope and love.

Irving, co-chair of the Relay for Life for the 4th years, said the purpose of the Kickoff “is to get some teams together and try to bring other people into the Relay, to announce the Grand Marshalls, and try to get the word out. … This year’s Relay for Life will take place in the SCCC courtyard.” She explained that “there are paths in the courtyard that you can walk around. It’s smaller, but we find that it’s very cozy … and lots of places to rest.”

Irving mentioned that “a team can consist of one person or 50 people. … The more teams the better. … It’s a matter of going out there, getting people interested and raising a little bit of money. There’s no minimum you have to raise … It’s so much fun at Relay, we’re one big happy family, we have a ball. … Even if someone doesn’t want to have a team, just come to our event, just come and walk around. There’s raffles, there’s food, there’s games, just see what it’s like. I guarantee, once they’ve been there, it’s contagious.”

The 2012 event raised over $72,000.

To join a team or for more information, call Gayle Irving at 845-985-2696 or 845-701-5319.

You can also go online to www.americancancersocietyrelayforlife/sullivancountyny or go on Facebook, there’s a Sullivan County Relay for Life page, or go on Thunder 102.

To see more photos or to purchase prints from Sullivan County Relay for Life 2013 Kickoff Rally, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.