Relay for Life Raises More Than $100,000

The Ocean City Relay for Life raised more than $100,000 Friday night to go to the American Cancer Society.

More than 1,000 people showed up to walk around the track and camp out over night to stand up to cancer. 

Relay For Life started in 1985. However, Ocean City is only in its third year in hosting the event. This year, relay will be held in 5,000 communities to support ones lost to cancer, battling cancer or affected by cancer.

"The American Cancer Society has had a hand in every cancer break-though from developing drugs and associating things like cigarette smoking and cancer," Cathy Landolt, organizer of Relay in Ocean City.

The relay started at 6 p.m. and went until 7 a.m the following morning.

Each team sells a product or service to raise more money for the event. One team sold $5 massages, another sold T-shirts, and another ran games. Team Micheal planned a team around "Kids Around the World" and had sack races, candy for sale, crafts and more. The team was formed to commemorate Dottie Sheehan's brother, who passed away from colon cancer. 

Even businesses in town donated items or had a team running.

donated scones and coffee throughout the night so that a local high school team titled Team Ford Bronco could raise more money.

Kids Creations, a store located on 8th and Asbury, set up in front of Team Beating Cancer's campsite and did glitter tattoo's. Owner Lisa Klassman donated the proceeds to the American Cancer Society. 

"My mother passed away after having breast cancer, and I think everyone has been touched by cancer in some way," Klassman states. "I do this with my kids to show them that this is a big part of life."

At 10 p.m., the luminaria began. Participants buy bags for $10, which are decorated, filled with a candle and placed around the track. Buyers write memories or names of people lost to cancer.

At the same time, participants listened to a true story from whoever is in charge of relay for the year.

Cathy Mandel explained how she lost her mother to cancer when she was a young girl. She stated that she often ponders what it will be like when her mother is not present for big events like getting married or having a baby. At the end, Mandel stated that she believes and angel for her mother is always watching over her.

This time of the event is a very emotional time and a silent lap around the track is done. 

Other times throughout the night, laps around the track are customized.

A 50s/60s lap plays only music from that time, and Micheal Jackson lap plays only his music, and other laps require dressing up. At 1 a.m., men go around and see who is dressed as the best woman, while other teams donate money to them. Relay has many activities including badminton, football, field hockey, soccer, Frisbee and more. 

Teams that raised the most money according to the online website for Ocean City Relay are Team Citrin Cooperman-PA which raised $15,652, Ocean City Firefighters with $7,284 and Scrunchy Bunch 1 with $6,298. These are only online donations that were inputted through the website.

It is likely that each team raised more in person and at the event than listed.