Mountaintop Relay for Life Raises $28K

From The Daily Mail

By Dollie Gull

HUNTER — Lynn and Frank O’Connell said that the First Relay for Life, a fight against cancer and support for the American Cancer Society, was “a huge success.”

It was the first Mountaintop Relay for Life and the first ever for Greene County, according to the O’Connells. It was held at a local park.

The 16-hour event, which began at 6 p.m., Saturday and continued until 6 a.m. the following day, was “quite a night,” according to Lynn O’Connell who with her husband, Frank, and Carol Bishop-Panepinto from the Albany American Cancer Society coordinated the event.

“Our goal was 25 teams and to raise $20,000 and we had well more than 30 teams and at 6 a.m., Sunday, we were at $28,000!” said Lynn, happy with the event’s impact.

“We had an awesome night,” she said.

There were numerous events and activities planned throughout the period of the relay, including hot food served to cancer survivors, ice cream from the local Stewart’s, along with entertainment and other events, including a lemonade stand at which children raised money for the ACS.

Funds raised will go to support cancer research, while most of the money will remain in Greene County in support of cancer victims and an educational outreach program, she reports.

Among the volunteers who worked to make the event a success were Stephanie Marino from the Racing for A Cure Team; May Angle and Kay Byrne, who recruited people, gathered donations and helped with the event’s logistics. Among others who worked to make it a success were Dave Hartman and the volunteers of the Hunter Fire Company, Charlie Sweet and the guys at the Village of Hunter.

“Thanks too,” says Lynn, “to Brandywine, Michael’s, Tadero’s Vesuvio’s, Selena’s, WRIP Radio Station, and MacGregor’s.” She also praised her sister, Kate, who spoke during the “Survivor Ceremony,” saying that they had really hoped that their mother could have been present for this event. She also praised the barber and hair dressers who participated in the “Crew Cuts for a Cure,” the folks who created the luminaria bags, did face painting for the children and those who did fundraising.