Westover’s Relay for Life Raises More than $29,000 to Fight Cancer

Middlebury, Connecticut – More than $29,000 was raised to fight cancer thanks to the third annual Relay for Life co-sponsored by Westover School and Trinity-Pawling School. The event was held May 18th on Westover’s Molder Field on behalf of the American Cancer Society.

Kati Eggert, Westover’s Assistant Athletic Director, coordinated the planning and running of the event. After the Relay, Ms. Eggert thanked “everyone who helped make this year’s Relay For Life a success.” Three seniors – Lauren-Nicole Laurenceau, Erika Malapad-Trentalange, and Caitlin O’Reilly – assisted Ms. Eggert in the planning of the event. 

“Donations can still be made through August,” Ms. Eggert added, “and I do anticipate we’ll reach our overall goal of $30,000 for the event.”

More than 200 students, faculty, parents, and graduates from both schools, as well as volunteers from the community, took part in the seven-hour event, which featured participants walking around a luminaria-lined course. After welcoming remarks from Westover Head of School Ann Pollina, the event took on a festive atmosphere on a cool but sunny Sunday afternoon with an array of picnic food, informal games of Frisbee toss, soccer, and volleyball, along with kite flying, water balloon fights, and even a children’s bouncy castle. 

Andrew Hedber spoke at the opening ceremonies as a cancer survivor; he is the 9-year-old brother of Katie Hedberg, a member of the Class of 2012 who was the student chair of the 2012 Relay for Life at Westover. Westover faculty member Beth Wirsul spoke at the closing ceremonies as a cancer survivor.

Live performances by guest musicians included a band led by Lee-Ann Zarrella Lovelace of Waterbury, a member of Westover’s Class of 1998, as well as a capella groups from Westover and Trinity-Pawling, the Westover Gospel Choir, Westover faculty members Kate Truini (a member of the Class of 2009) and Paul McCullough, and Westover sophomore Amelia Bell of Lakeville, freshman Sarah Cavallaro of Middlebury, and freshman Shauna Sullivan of Waterbury. As he did for the 2012 Relay for Life, retired Westover faculty member Terry Hallaran again performed “Amazing Grace” on the violin. 

Closing ceremonies for the Relay began around sunset, with remarks from event coordinators and the lighting of the luminaria – decorated to honor cancer victims, survivors, and supporters – which cast a glow across around the Relay’s course and which spelled out the words “hope” and then “cure” on the Arcade’s stands overlooking the field. 

The Trinity-Pawling team raised a total of $6,833.47, while multiple teams for Westover raised most of the balance of the total contributions. The top fundraising teams for Westover were the Westover Faculty, $3,625; the Othello Cast and Crew, $3,055; Westover Seniors, $2,801; and The Other Guys, $2,588. The sale of luminarias and other fundraising activities leading up to the event – and the sale of food, baked goods, jewelry and other items during the Relay by several of the teams and other volunteers – contributed more than $4,500 to the overall fundraising total.

The five top individual fundraisers for the Relay for Life were: freshman Briana Jones of Shenzhen, China, $1,755; junior Meghan Vogel of Andover, Massachusetts, $1,520; dorm parent Elise House, $1,345; freshman Lilly Diamond of Higganum, $1,230; and freshman Alexandra Hawley of Morris, $1,090.

Westover parents Christina and Patrick Fay of Pawling, New York, donated all of hamburgers, hot dogs, and rolls for the hungry participants, while parents Roberta and Blair Hawley of Morris donated a large supply of chips and soda for the event. LaBonne’s donated a $50 gift card, while two area restaurants – Middlebury Pizza and Pies and Pints – donated pizzas. Westover faculty members Nancy Pratt and Barbara Sabia donated supplies for the Relay. Westover parent Deborah Shurberg of Morris captained the parent team and coordinated parent volunteers. Technical Director Ian Diedrich coordinated the sound system for the event, and assisted with the set up for each set of performances.