Excitement, Love, Triumph, Support: Greeley's Relay for Life

Six years ago, a group of Horace Greeley High School students founded the Relay for Life Club after a friend was diagnosed with cancer.

Since then, the annual overnight fundraiser "has gained a reputation as being fun," shared Amy Kaiser, faculty advisor for the club.

But beyond viewing the event as a way to hang out with friends all night long, "A lot of parents of students have survived or passed away from cancer," Kaiser said.

For Sarah Schattschneider, a Greeley senior and co-chair of this year's Relay, "There's so much emotion in this event."

"There's excitement to find a cure and sharing of loving memories of cancer patients who lost their lives," she continued. "There's triumph and support for those in remission or who are still fighting cancer."

Kaiser said there are about 575 active participants in this year's relay. Between 200 and 300 spectators are also expected, she added.

While Schattschneider said the relay committee had to make some last minute changes (no balloon arch just yet and the luminaria bags are being kept dry in the Survivors' Tent) to accommodate the evening's rain, it was clear no one seemed deterred.

Attendees worked together to set up tents in the rain, while some students chased each other with water guns around the the track as the evening got underway.

And with 69 total teams having raised $172,192.26 as of press time, "We have already exceeded our goal this year," Kaiser shared.

Plus, "We are on track for our most ever raised," she added. "This is our largest year so far."

The donations are collected by the American Cancer Society, which is, according to its website, "a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem."

New this year in Chappaqua are raffle prizes and a variety of happenings to keep the excitement level up overnight, including a movie screening at 2 a.m., according to Schattschneider.

"It embodies the essence of community," she said the of the event. "It's great to see everyone come together for this cause."