caption:
Tradition
Co-presidents of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club, lightsabers in hand, were just a few of the Interact members who helped. The Interact Club raises money throughout the year for Relay and has for many years. In front of them are the tie-dyed socks they sell each year. Eric Levesque, at left; and Jordyn Butler. Courtesy photo.

A survivor's lap


Families, schools, and businesses alike celebrated cancer survivors and remembered those lives lost at Relay For Life of Northeastern Connecticut June 1 at the St. Marie-Greenhalgh Sports Complex in Putnam.
Participants and visitors alike said the American Cancer Society event felt celebratory and supportive. Taylor Penman, QMC team captain, said, “My students are still talking about the kindness and inspiration they experienced as so many people came together for a good cause.”
“Cancer survivors are what Relay For Life is all about,” said Tammy Brissette, survivor chair. “This year we had Lisa French and Holly Gilbert, survivors of 45 and 50 years, lead our first lap, lending inspiration and strength to the recently diagnosed. The survivor and caregiver brunch celebrated them. The brunch was provided for free by individual donors and local businesses.” The local businesses that provided the brunch were: Bakers’ Dozen, Dunkin’, Heirloom Food Company, Henry’s Diner and Variety, Putnam Supermarket, The Broken Crust, The Courthouse Bar and Grille, The Painted Baker Café, and the Sunshine Shop.
The Putnam Rotary Interact Advisor and sponsorship chair, Roberta Rocchetti’s team celebrated 28 years of participation this year. Of this year’s event, Rocchetti said, “It is a bittersweet Relay for me after recently losing my sister-in-law to cancer. I know treatments and care have improved thanks to research by the American Cancer Society. Generous sponsors like Fiberoptics Technology Inc., Foster Corp., and Linemaster Switch Co., make that research possible.”
Relay For Life Co-Chair Shane Donahue said: “We brought together around 100 caregivers and survivors for our reception this year, and honored over 600 lives touched by cancer during our luminaria ceremony. In the week leading up to and during our event, we raised over $18,000, bringing our total past the $75,000 mark. Our goal of $100,000 this year is within reach, and we have teams that are passionate about hitting it by August 31st. This work wouldn’t be possible without the support of my Event Leadership Team, my students, town officials, businesses, and our remarkable participants.”
You can still donate: relayforlife.org/northeasternct
Regarding funds raised, American Cancer Society Staff Member, Jennifer Cabrera said, “The funds we raise improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.”

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