Relay for Life Comes to Sachem

Sachem's at it again. Making magic happen.

This weekend Sachem High School North hosted the community's Relay for Life event on the track at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium. 

Close to a thousand people participated in the event that lasts 12 hours from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. With entertainment on stage, fun and games and the main goal of battling cancer, plenty were out and about on North's track with smiles.

"It brings the community together as one to fight back for one cause," said Kathy Abreu, the Director of Special Events for the American Cancer Society. "It's unique in the fact that it's overnight. It signifies a patient's journey in their battle against cancer because cancer doesn't sleep."

Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Since then, each year more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.

There are 21 Relay events held in Suffolk County each year. The funds are used for education, advocacy, patient services and research.

At 9:15 p.m. the lights around the track are shut off and a luminary ceremony rouses the crowd as bags of candles shed light in honor of people who have fought cancer.

Another day in Sachem, another fine moment.