Survivors lead the relay during an emotional Survivors Lap around
the Patterson Fire Department grounds
PATTERSON – The weatherman cooperated with golden sunshine and
pleasant breezes on Saturday as hundreds participated in the Relay for
Life in Patterson.
The 8th annual event raised more than $200,000 for the American Cancer
Society upping the total garnered for cancer research to more than $800,000
since the first relay was held in northern Putnam in 2009.
Tracey Walsh, a cancer survivor and one of the organizers of the Putnam
Relays for Life told opening ceremonies that “We are a community
unified to fight cancer. Many heroes are found each day in the fight against
cancer. There are the survivors, caregivers, doctors, donors and personal
heroes.”
The 2017 Relay was held in memory of four long-time supporters of the
American Cancer Society who lost their battles during the past year –
former State Trooper and Patterson Town Justice John King, Erin Bentivenga,
Nicole O’Brien and Kristi Hajkowski.
Prior to the lighting of the relay torch and the cutting of the ribbon
kicking off the Survivor’s Lap, Walsh told the audience of some
500, “We will light up the day and finish the fight against this
horrible disease that has affected every family in Putnam County.”
