Lynn relay celebrates triumph over tragedy

LYNN – As she takes her first lap around Red Rock Park on June 5, Janet Rowe first will remember her late father who lost his life to lung cancer. And then she will think of cancer survivors like her friend Kathy Carritte.Carritte survived lung cancer four years after a diagnosis that Rowe said was “like a death sentence.” Along with Rowe and hundreds of other Lynn-area residents, Carritte will spend June 5 and June 6 walking the perimeter of the oceanfront park in memory of lives lost to cancer and celebrate survivors’ lives.Over 1,000 people enjoyed the “Relay by the Sea” last year including a ceremonial lap for survivors and their family caregivers.This year there will be many events including face-painting for the kids, mini-facial and -foot massages by Geri Cronin of “About Face,” Donna’s Dance Studio Irish Step and Hip Hop dancers, live music by the band “Supertonics” and DJ’s Rich Naugle and Dave Nordyke.Relay 2009’s opening ceremony includes a testimonial by participants about why they participate in the events with its months of planning and coordination.The loss of her father initially attracted Rowe to the event. Bruce Coughlin died in 2000 three weeks after his lung cancer diagnosis. His family’s participation in Relay is as much a tribute to his memory as it is a push to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Forty-five Coughlin family members are slated to attend Relay.”It’s become a family reunion,” Rowe said.Twenty-eight teams raised over $54,000 at last year’s Relay. Rowe said 33 teams are signed up for this year’s event, including ones that have tallied up $5,000 in fund-raising prior to past Relays.The event begins with registration at 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 5 with the opening ceremony scheduled at 6 p.m. The most poignant moment among many during the evening is the lighting of luminary bags at 9 p.m. The rows of paper bags holding candles are hand-lettered with the names of individuals killed by cancer. Many of the bags are decorated with photographs.Last year, over 2000 bags lined the park walkways and shone throughout the night while bagpipers Kevin Cronin and Ned Shinnick played. As the pipes keened across the water, Luminary Chairperson Jim Cowdell called upon all team members, family, friends and survivors to step out onto the track and walk in memory of, or in honor of, their loved ones.The remainder of the evening and early morning hours Saturday, June 6 include plenty of fun with a pajama and Mardi Gras laps around the park, raffle drawings, “Miss Relay Pageant” and a kids’ dance party.The 2009 team list includes participants from City Hall, Lynn Police and Fire departments, Public Works, Lynn Housing Authority, Lynn School Department members with Classical High, Harrington, Brickett and Pickering Jr. High’s 39 “National Honor Society Students”.Other teams include the Lynn Boy Scouts, St. Mary’s High Students, SPIN (Serving People in Need), both Men and Woman Hibernians, along with many other Lynn Family Teams walking in honor of their friends and families.For more information, call Rowe or Mary Audley at 781-586-6726.