$100,000 raised at Relay for Life in Cranberry Township
CRANBERRY TWP — More than $100,000 was raised for cancer research and patient support Saturday at North Boundary Park during the Greater Cranberry Township Relay for Life.
Dubbed the “Birthday Party in the Park,” the event began at 8 a.m. with games, bands and people walking on the track until closing at 11 p.m.
The township Relay has raised more than $19 million over the last 16 years. Nationally, Relay for Life has raised $4.2 billion for research and patient support.
Miranda Wiggins, a 15-year-old survivor from Cranberry Township and team captain of Miranda Miracles, is just one of thousands of patients who benefit from the annual event. Diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma at age 3, Miranda was treated with chemotherapy for two and a half years and has been cancer free for 10 years.
“There's still people who have cancer and die from cancer. We don't want people to have to face it in the future,” said Miranda, who raised $1,029 with her team of friends and family.
Her mother, Maria Wiggins, said the money helps the American Cancer Society provide older patients with transportation to appointments for treatment, education, a hot line that newly diagnosed patients can call, other services and research.
“It helps them get resources and the help they need,” Maria said.
Miranda, who addressed the crowd in the park during the opening ceremony, said she raised money online and family members in Michigan held a bottle drive for her team's fundraising efforts.
Those same family members from Michigan also made the long, but rewarding, drive to Cranberry Township for Saturday's event.
“My family drives in from Michigan. My family makes a big deal of it. It's a family celebration that she's still with us,” Miranda said.The Relay for Life movement started in 1985 when Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt — a stomach cancer survivor — walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Wash., in an effort to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society. Klatt walked and ran more than 83.6 miles that year, raising $27,000 through pledges. The following year, 19 teams took part in the first official Relay For Life event at Tacoma's historic Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000.Today, Relay for Life events are not just a big deal in local townships, but across the country and world.Alexandra Vaughan, event organizer for the American Cancer Society, said the Relay event in Cranberry Township has raised $19 million over the last 16 years and this year's total will exceed $100,000. She said the event included 28 teams raising money for the cause.“We'll definitely be over $100,000, which is amazing,” Vaughan said of the outpouring of support. “This community really comes together and really does a great job.” She said the society has raised $4.2 billion for research over the years.According to Vaughan, national Relay for Life events are second only to the federal government in funding cancer research.In addition to research, the money is used to provide lodging for patients seeking treatment, transportation to treatment. and to operate the live help line staffed all day, everyday with oncologists, nurses and volunteers to answer questions.
