This year’s annual Relay For Life of Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay will take place on Saturday, Feb. 28, with help from the community.
The opening ceremony is set for noon at Evelyn Greer Park, located at 8200 SW 124 St. in Pinecrest, but the event will last overnight. The purpose of Relay For Life is to raise awareness of prevention and detection of cancer and of services for those currently battling the disease, while raising much-needed funds in the fight for the cure. It is a symbolic walk, not a race.
The Village of Palmetto Bay, in a resolution sponsored by Mayor Eugene Flinn and passed unanimously by the council, provides $1,800 in funding support for the event. Mayor Flinn explained the reason behind it.
“The money we’ve put out is basically our share of the sponsorship for this important multi-city effort,” Mayor Flinn said. “Pinecrest has waived many fees and has participated both in money, staff time and sponsorship as well. Cutler Bay is also involved.
“Rather than having three sites we’re all working together. The Relay for life has been an important part of what I felt was our civic responsibility during my first terms in office, and for that time all three cities have participated together.”
Mayor Flinn said there also was another reason for his own interest in the event.
“I’m also personally participating, not only with my time but I’m going to be purchasing numerous luminarias in the name of my father, my father-in-law, as well as my high school friend and one of our first village police officers, Randy DiStefano,” Flinn said. “We lost all three to different cancers.
“I would ask that anybody who can’t participate live, and it is by the way quite a fun event during the evening to share some time and raise money for a good cause, to at least go online and donate for a luminaria for whomever you deem appropriate. It’s as little as $5.”
Sponsors include the Village of Palmetto Bay, the Town of Cutler Bay, the Village of Pinecrest, Gus Machado Ford, Real Miami FC, Biscayne Bank, Buchwald Jewelers, Dadeland Dodge and City National Bank.
The theme of this year’s event is Books, Books, and Books. In keeping with that, the Town of Cutler Bay’s team has chosen as their book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by children’s book author Laura Numeroff.
“We will be selling cookies of all flavors with milk, water and soda to raise funds in support of the cancer research and treatment of Osteosarcoma (bone cancer),” said Jazmin Gonzalez, executive assistant to the Cutler Bay town manager. “Our team will also have a ring toss game to assist in the fundraising effort, with bicycle safety helmets as game prizes.”
Cancer survivors are honored guests and will help lead teams in the opening lap at noon. A complimentary lunch and gift bag are provided by Survivor Tent sponsors: Baptist Health Systems, Roaster ‘n’ Toasters and JoAnna’s Marketplace. There will be performances on the main stage, from noon until 11 p.m., presented by schools, businesses and local bands.
To find out more information about how you can participate contact event chair Liz Albelo at larranz@hotmail.com, or visit on Facebook, <www.facebook.com/RelayForLifePinecrest2015>.
Team development chairs, Cheri Ball and Heidi Feder, are available to work with new teams. Contact Cheri at <cheri_ball@yahoo.com>.
For information about the Cutler Bay team call 305-234-4262. For information about the Palmetto Bay team call 305-259-1234.
