The normal outdoor setting for the districtwide Relay for Life event became the halls of Sanford H. Calhoun High School on May 13 as the community came together to fundraise for the American Cancer Society. The campsite was the gymnasium floor. The spirit, however, remained the same – unwavering.
“Relay is certainly a community event but it is also intensely personal as we all Relay for different reasons,” said Principal Nicole Hollings.
From car washes and bake sales to sporting events and pasta dinners, various teams from the district and community raised nearly $90,000.
Calhoun’s A Cup for a Cure was the top fundraising team, raking in $15,000. Kennedy’s Student Government team came in second, raising more than $12,000. As for individual fundraisers, Calhoun’s Nicole Imhof, a senior All-County softball pitcher, topped the charts with more than $8,000.
The overnight event included a festive opening ceremony, dancing, walking, sports, replay races, food, movies and camping. A middle-of-the-night break from the wet weather prompted some outdoor activities, including a somber luminaria service served as a reminder of why 450 participants came together that evening.
“There were people from Kennedy, Mepham and from every part of our community – people who came to this event wanting to remember someone special in their lives who survived or were lost, and wanting to join together to eradicate this disease,” Hollings said.
Photo Captions:
The Calhoun cheerleading squad raised more than $2,200.
Photos courtesy of Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
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