Area seniors invited to SCC Mini Relay for Life
‘Rally troops against cancer’
By LOIS KINDLE
While the large, overnight Relay for Life events in southern Hillsborough County are over, a mini relay for life is about to take place in Sun City Center. Sponsored by the Retired Officers Corporation at Freedom Plaza, the smaller-scale event is especially designed for the community’s senior population, said committee chairwoman Dana Dittmar.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Dana Dittmar, left, and Connie Lesko invite all area seniors to form a team and join the American Cancer Society’s Mini Relay for Life in Sun City Center on May 20 at Freedom Plaza. The event will include an American Heroes Lap, survivors brunch, luminaria, karaoke, Roamin’ Oldies car show, DJ, themed golf cart decorating contest and more.
“It’s being held on Armed Forces Day, so our theme is ‘rally your troops against cancer,’” she said. “Typical Relay for Life events take place over 18 to 24 hours at an area football field and they’re designed for a younger crowd. This mini relay will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it’s designed especially for seniors.”
Dittmar stated Sun City Center residents want to support Relay for Life because cancer affects them disproportionately.
“Because we’re older we don’t want to go listen to hip hop music and sleep on the ground overnight,” she said. “We want to have fun and support Relay for Life in our own way.”
That “way” includes an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. followed by an American Heroes Lap and survivors brunch at 10:30, in which participants have the option of dressing as their favorite superhero or in their military colors (in honor of Armed Forces Day). The program continues with a karaoke contest at 11 a.m., luminaria remembrance ceremony at 12:30 p.m. and closing ceremony at 1.
The event will also include a Roamin’ Oldies car show, DJ provided by Spirit Entertainment, patriotic-themed golf cart-decorating contest for prizes and a preview of new golf cart models, with test drives provided by Club Car of Sun City Center. Contest entry is $10.
“This event will be short and sweet,” Dittmar said. “Let’s face it, our attention spans are not what they used to be. But this is an important cause, so we encourage everyone to form a team to collect donations and join us.
“Teams can include ‘your neighbors, pickleball buddies, social or civic club members and church friends,’” she added. “You can even come walk on your own.”
“We used to do a mini relay in Sun City Center several years ago, but there wasn’t enough support to keep it going,” said committee member Connie Lesko. “Freedom Plaza has partnered with the American Cancer Society to bring it back, and we hope it will become a major (annual) community event. The Retired Officers Corporation is proud to sponsor it, especially on this day when we can also honor our Armed Forces.
“So wear your red, white and blue and come join the fun,” she said.
Lesko and her team, the Freedom Plaza Commandos, will be among the participating teams. “We’re excited to be part of the event’s revival,” she said. “So many in our community have been personally touched or had a family member touched by cancer, and we wanted to provide them with the opportunity to support and honor those living with the disease and those no longer with us.”
All South Shore area seniors are welcome to participate. The mini relay is a feeder event for the South Shore Relay for Life, which was held at East Bay High School in March and raised $55,000. The mini relay’s goal is $10,000.
The Riverview Relay for Life, which also took place in March, raised $110,000.
All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. The money is used to support the nonprofit’s mission of “saving lives, celebrating lives and leading the fight for a world without cancer,” wrote spokeswoman Samantha Schneider in an e-mail. “In doing so, we provide free programs and services to cancer patients and their families, including transportation to and from treatment, lodging during treatment and our Look Good Feel Better Program.”
The Sun City Center Mini Relay for Life will take place May 20 at Golf View Terrace Circle at Freedom Plaza. For more information or to sign up a team, visit www.relayforlife.org/suncitycenterfl, or call Dittmar at 813-634-5111; Lesko at 813-927-1147; or Schneider at 941-720-1115.
