ISLAND FUND RAISER: Volunteers still sought for June 8 Relay for Life

Grand Island

February 11, 2007

By Joseph Kissel/ngedit@gnnewspaper.com The Niagara Gazette Sun Feb 11, 2007, 09:42 PM EST

What the Relay needs

n Large Tents: Necessary to store the dozens and dozens of gift baskets that each team will produce to help fund the GI’s overall Relay drive.

n Also, last year saw 2,000 luminarias – special bags containing candles – produced. Organizers are hoping a youth group can step forward to do the same this year.

n A “men’s group” is need to help with site logistics, lighting the track, providing security and patrolling the tents.

“Out of 14 events you ranked number two,” said Deb Bogden to the 100 or so Islanders gathered Wednesday in the high school auditorium.

They were gathered to kick-off Grand Island 2007 Relay for Life, which will June 8 all night long around the high school track.

“Four short years ago — for those who can remember – we were at the bottom of the list,” she said.

Last year, Barker beat Grand Island’s amount of $120,000 by only $12,000.

“And with all that growth, you still kept your expenses at nine percent,” Bogden said.

Bogden, who served for four years as the American Cancer Society liaison for GI’s Relay for Life teams, went on to state that across the country, 4,600 Relay events took place.

“That’s more sites than Starbuck’s and McDonald,” Bogden said.

Though nobody’s overplaying the competitive aspect of this year’s Relay for Life fundraising effort, it just may be so that the Island goes from last to nearly first in just five years.

This year’s co-chairs are Mary Dunbar-Daluisio and Town Supervisor Peter McMahon. Both went to Washington, D.C. in September to help represent New York State in the fight against cancer.

Back home, they’re hoping to spur the 65 teams that participated last year to surpass last year’s goal.

“I don’t like to go with a number because they always end up shocking me,” Dunbar said.

In 2003, Grand Island raised $12,000; 2004, $47,000; 2005, $94,000; and last year, $112,000 after expenses.

Although the kick-off just took place this week, already teams have been busy raising money: $3,000 so far.

For instance, Team Huth had a bake sale during the holidays and raised $1,100. “I cannot imagine how much work was involved in a bake sale to pull in that kind of profit,” Dunbar said.

Also, this year the Island will see not one but two flocks of purple flamingos descending upon select people’s lawns coupled with a $25 relocation fee. This year will differ, however, in that likely “victims” can buy insurance for $25.

Anybody interested in starting a team or helping out can call Cancer Society liaison Jane Dent at 689-6982 ext. 117.

A team captains meeting will take place 7 p.m. March 6 in the high school large cafeteria.

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