By Suzanne Laurent
DERRY — Captains for the 2010 Greater Derry/Londonderry Relay for Life have some lofty goals for the annual event — $250,000.
Team captains held a kickoff event last month at Brookstone Park and Event Center. They set a goal of $250,000 for 110 teams. The relay will be held June 25 and 26 at the Pinkerton Academy track.
"We had a good turnout, even though there was a snowstorm that night," said Greta Cote, public relations coordinator for the Derry event.
In Derry last year, 94 teams raised $214,000, making it the top relay in the state and one of the top 25 in the New England division, Cote said.
This is the American Cancer Society's 26th year for Relay for Life. It started in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma surgeon, spent 24 hours running on a local track to raise money for his local ACS chapter.
Since then, the event has taken off round the country and is the American Cancer Society's signature event. Money raised during the relay goes to research, education, advocacy and patient services.
Local cancer survivors are invited to participate in the Survivor's Lap that kicks off the 18-hour event on June 25 at 6 p.m. Last year, 135 survivors were handed red carnations as they began their lap under an arch of pink and purple balloons.
Anyone wishing to start a team or join one can visit www.relayforlife.org/derryandlondonderrynh or contact Brigit Ryan at Brigit.Ryan@cancer.org or at 471-4113.
"We are still looking for people to join our committee for the Derry/Londonderry team," Cote said.
The next committee meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, followed by a new team captains' meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Derry Public Library.
