Supporters of the Relay for Life in Riverview and Gibsonton don’t just talk the talk when it comes to supporting one of the area’s largest and fun-filled relay events. They walk the walk. Literally. For 18 hours.
“The number of teams that participate is quite large, and it’s a true community event that blends high school, elementary and family teams,” said Mallory McLean, Relay for Life’s southeast Hillsborough County community manager. “Everyone really shows up for this event.”
The relay to help fight cancer is slated to feature 51 teams totaling 554 participants. Riverview High School, Summerfield Elementary, Riverview Elementary, Desoto Lodge No. 105, First Baptist Church, Center State Bank and Progress Village are among the groups fielding teams.
The event is set for noon, Saturday, March 21, and runs to 6 a.m. the following morning at Riverview High School, 11311 Boyette Road. With more than 50 fundraising booths expected — 49 was the last count — organizers hope to raise at least $130,000. The teams have already raised $61,068, according to the Relay for Life Riverview web page. A luminary ceremony, often an emotional event for everyone involved, is also planned.
“Different people have different reasons for relaying,” said Teresa Rimes, co-captain of the Showmen’s Club team. “I lost my aunt and, just last year, I lost my brother-in-law.”
The event kicks off with an opening ceremony and a survivor’s lap, where you will find Tammy Long. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, Long didn’t believe it at first.
“I never had cancer in my family, so when they told me, I said there has to be something radically wrong. If I have cancer, it has to be somewhere else,” said Long, co-captain of the Showmen’s Club team.
When the reality finally sank in, she was in shock.
“I didn’t break down at the moment [they told me]. Then, when my husband and I were driving home in the car, you have that breakdown moment, and then you get home and have to explain it to your kids,” Long said.
The day doctors removed the lump and she was cancer-free “was glorious,” she said. “It was like a breath of fresh air. You sit back and say ‘Wow. This could have gone horribly wrong.’ With four children, I can now finish my life.”
The relays don’t just serve as a fundraiser for cancer research, they also provide priceless camaraderie and support for those dealing with the disease.
“It’s a lot of fun, but it also brings that awareness to people,” said Shelby Royal, a Gibsonton resident and a member of the Showmen’s Club team and a cancer survivor. “I love to see all the people there for the same reason.”
So what do they do at 3 a.m. to stay awake and entertained? Plenty, as it turns out.
Throughout the night, teams don different outfits for themed laps to keep the fun going. “We will have a silly hat, 1950s look … there are about 30 things through the night where we will dress and redress,” Rimes said. “It’s a lot of fun. By 3:30 a.m. in the morning we are having fun, dancing, doing glow-stick laps, doing pajama laps, we are all having a laugh.”
Teams will also be running their fundraisers through the night. The Showmen’s team will be selling gourmet candy apples and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Once the relay is over, teams will already be looking ahead to next year. “We don’t stop,” Long said. “We are on it. Every dollar counts. I certainly don’t want my kids to have it, or grandkids. It’s something you don’t want anyone to go through.”
For sponsorship opportunities and more information, email Mallory McLean, mallory.mclean@cancer.org or call 813-319-5920. The Riverview Relay for Life also has a Facebook page — search for Riverview Relay for Life — as well as a webpage at Relayforlife.org. Check out both for upcoming team fundraisers being held before March 21.