Space is still available at the Cancer Survivors Dinner to be held at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on St. John from 6 to 8 p.m., Feb. 11, at Winston Wells Ballfield in Cruz Bay just after the event’s opening ceremony. Cancer survivors and one caregiver each are invited.
The Relay for Life runs Feb. 11 and 12, and 30 of St. John’s restaurants are providing a variety of foods that showcases the island’s cultural diversity.
“You and your caregiver are cordially invited to attend the dinner and to participate in the other ceremonies throughout the 18-hour event,” Relay for Life Committee Chairman Mary Bartolucci said.
She added that she expects about 50 cancer survivors and 50 of their caregivers to attend. This year’s theme is St John is celebrating more birthdays.
There is an admission charge of $10 at the gate for people attending the event. Bartolucci said those attending will get a complimentary t-shirt, and those same t-shirts will also be for sale.
Planning for the event is in its final stages. Bartolucci said Tangie Warren and Antonia George, the founders of the non-profit Hope for Hair with Elegance Foundation, will be on hand.
Hope for Hair is a non-profit organization providing hair enhancements for patients battling cancer. It was created as a way to restore pride, faith, and beauty to woman and children who have experienced hair loss due to cancer treatments. They can create wigs and hair pieces from just two inches of hair.
“This is truly a ministry because it’s just the inner peace you have knowing that you’re giving back to someone in their time of need. When you look good, you feel good,” George said.
Hope for Hair with Elegance Foundation personnel will be available to accept donations of hair during the event. Anyone interested in donating hair will be offered a complimentary hair cut.
While many of the teams that will keep pace on the ballfield track for the relay event hail from St. John, one virtual team is made of of participants from www.virgin-island-on-line.com travel forum: the WannaBes. Those who joined the WannaBes virtual team are regular posters and frequent visitors to St. John, and as of Thursday morning, they had raised $1,900 for the Relay for Life a posting on the forum indicated.
Bartolucci said about 40 teams have signed up to participate in the relay. There is still space for about 10 more. Teams have a maximum of 15 people, must pay a registration fee of $150, and have raised at least $1,500.
Last year’s Relay for Life raised $149,000 to help the local chapter of the American Cancer Society with its work. That work includes free screenings for cervical, breast, and prostate cancer.
To register for the Cancer Survivors Dinner, call Beverly Biziewski at 776-6833, Carolyn Weinstock at 779-4556, or fill out a registration form at one of the tables in the Marketplace shopping center, or in front of the post office where committee members are selling luminaries. To sign up for the relay, call Celia Kalousek at 693-9410.
