WASHINGTON TWP. — Fundraising for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life by students in the West Morris Regional High School district started in an appropriate place this school year – the Monday, Aug. 14 meeting of the grades 9-12 district’s Board of Education.
A presentation by advisors and some students at the meeting, held at West Morris Central High School, showed a total of $62,177.66 was raised over the 2022-23 school year, with events culminating with the June 2 – 3 Relay for Life at Mendham High School.
That event was also the first traditional over-nighter since 2019, thanks to the Covid pandemic. The last few years it was either held virtually or with limited participation.
Part of the reason for starting early is to kickoff the fund raising efforts during the Aug. 25 West Morris Central-Mendham football game, to be held at West Morris Central.
The 2024 Relay for Life final event for the 2023-24 school year will be held from Friday, May 31 into the early hours of Saturday, June 1, at West Morris Central.
This June’s Relay for Life was the 18th for the event which is held at West Morris Central High School in even numbered years and Mendham High School in odd ones. The event culminates a school year of fundraising.
Relay for Life is held overnight because, according to the American Cancer Society, “Cancer Never Sleeps.” Helping to keep participants awake until the 5 a.m. conclusion was a host of activities that included cornhole and volleyball games, a Frozen T-Shirt contest, Spikeball Tournament, Midnight Zumba, a Tug of War, Relay Races and early morning Karaoke.
Fundraising during the 2022-23 school year was so successful that the American Cancer Society designated the schools’ relay as a Rising Star Event, giving the effort national recognition.
During the Aug. 14 meeting, West Morris advisor Scott Iantosca said the group ”thought it was important to show off what the district was able to do last year and the community especially and keep that steam going and see if we can do better to help everyone that is affected by cancer.
“With all the kids we have and the support we get I think we can make it happen,
“In terms of fundraising (this year) I don’t think we are going to re-invent the wheel too much but I think we have some ideas,” he said. “Our student leads literally take the lead on that.’’
He said the Friday, Aug. 25 football game is “going to be our big event” this upcoming school year.
“We have our Fall Fest and then we have some small events that we have throughout the year. We want to make sure that the kids are really taking charge with that.’’
Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, trailing only heart disease according to the American Cancer Society. About 609,360 people were expected to die from cancer in 2022.
The volunteers fundraise at their individual schools throughout the year but get together at one school or another for the final event.
This year’s leading student volunteers, some of whom were at the board meeting, included Allison Wise, Angelika Manis, Samairra Mehra and advisors Celine Mileham and Nanditha Lakshmanan of Mendham.
West Morris Central’s student team members included Melanie Busch, Owen McCoy and Radha Pilli and advisor Iantosca.