Deb Fortino wants people to know that Relay for Life Marlton is more than a walk.
It’s an experience.
“You don’t quite understand it until you go,” Fortino said. “There’s so much going on. Every hour there are different activities. There’s something for everyone.”
Fortino sits on the leadership committee for Relay for Life Marlton, a 12-hour fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. She said the event drew her in because it is all encompassing.
Fortino was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a pediatric cancer that mainly affects children and adolescents, at age 25.
“What I like about it is it’s not just one cancer. It’s all the cancers,” Fortino said. “When I was 25, I had pediatric cancer. There was a walk for it, but it was mostly kids. I never could relate to any walks. This one I can relate to because it’s for everybody.”
Relay for Life Marlton begins at noon on Saturday, June 4, and runs through midnight at the track at Cherokee High School, 120 Tomlinson Mill Road. Teams sign up, fundraise and, at the event, walk laps around the track.
“Relay for Life of Marlton started eight years ago and I have been involved since the beginning. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. My mother and two of my sisters had breast cancer as well, and we carry the BRCA-1 gene. I was lucky enough to benefit from some of the services that the American Cancer Society offers,” Meryl Schindler said, “and when I received a postcard in the mail telling me that a Relay was starting in Marlton and asking if I wanted to get involved, I jumped on the chance … I value the time I get to spend meeting the many faces of Relay — survivors, caregivers and people who just want to help.”
Schindler serves on the Relay for Life Marlton committee and is the registration chairperson.
“I am lucky enough to work with a committee of people who have become a part of my family,” Schindler said. “We support each other’s ideas and come up with new and exciting ideas to keep Relay fresh.”
Since its inception in 1985, Relay for Life has grown to include 4 million people in more than 20 countries around the world. It’s the largest grassroots fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. And while some of the money raised goes toward research, a large portion stays in the communities where it originated.
American Cancer Society services in Burlington County include Roads to Recovery, where volunteers give rides to those going to chemotherapy or treatment, and Look Good Feel Better, which helps teach women undergoing treatment how to cope with skin changes and hair loss by teaching scarf-tying, makeup applications and more. There is also 1–800–227–2345, the 24-hour help line to give answers to those facing cancer.
At Relay for Life Marlton, teams are given a campsite within the track to act as their home base. The day kicks off with an opening ceremony. A cancer survivor speaks, and then survivors walk the first lap together. Everyone joins for the second lap. Festivities follow.
“We have many fundraising activities, games, Zumba, kickboxing, a deejay, food trucks and contests all joining to spend time with family and friends while raising money,” Schindler said. “We have a wonderful survivor luncheon for survivors and their caregivers that is catered by local restaurants.”
At 9 p.m., a Luminaria Ceremony is held, with white candle-lit bags lining the track. Each bag is scribed with a name — some are names of those who passed, and others are names of survivors. Lights on the track are turned off, and the glow of the luminaria bags is the only light. These bags can also be purchased before the event for a $10 donation, which is part of the fundraising efforts by participating teams.
“I get teary-eyed walking the Survivor’s Lap and during the Luminaria Ceremony,” Ron “Woody” Woodmansee said. “It’s impressive. It’s almost like God speaking from above. It makes you realize how lucky you are.”
Woodmansee is a cancer survivor. After he was diagnosed with prostate cancer nearly seven years ago, he heard about Relay for Life. He took part five years ago, and has served on the committee for four years.
“It’s extra special to me this year because my wife has breast cancer now,” Woodmansee said. His wife, Lynn Thomson, has volunteered with Relay for Life Marlton for the past few years, too. Woodmansee said they got involved for a simple reason — to give back.
“This stage in my life, I’ve been lucky in a lot of ways,” he said, “so now it’s time for me to give back.”
The American Cancer Society hopes each individual taking part in Relay for Life raises at least $100. The Relay for Life Marlton has raised $24,465.63 as of last week, with 57 teams and 485 participants. The goal is $112,000.
“If you have cancer, you definitely feel a sense of community and comfort. If you are somebody who is a friend, you feel like you’ve contributed and that you’ve accomplished something,” Fortino said. “You can see that raising money for a good cause can be a lot of fun.”
For more information and to register for Relay for Life Marlton, visit www.relayforlife.org/marltonnj.
