SOUTHWICK – For anyone who has ever experienced Relay For Life, the event that raises money and awareness for cancer can be a real awakening.
Janine Iacolo is the chairperson of the Relay For Life of Agawam and she wants Southwick residents to join her as she celebrates, remembers, and fights back during the overnight event.
“Relay For Life is an opportunity for cancer survivors and caregivers to come together,” Iacolo said. “Everyone knows someone touched by cancer.”
For Iacolo, it was her brother who survived brain cancer. One of the lessons he taught her before his death five years ago was to keep fighting.
“He participated in Relay for 10 years and was an ambassador,” she told the Southwick Board of Selectmen Monday night.
Iacolo chuckled as she recalled her 6’4″ brother, bald headed, delivering a speech at a Relay wearing a grass skirt and coconut bra. That’s not all that unusual at Relay For Life events where teams often wear colorful matching t-shirts or silly costumes to help celebrate lives, not focus on the disease that too often takes them too early.
Iacolo said when Relay For Life came to her hometown of Agawam last year, she seized the opportunity to help organize the event.
“My brother was quoted as saying pity won’t cure cancer, action will,” she said. “I am continuing his fight.”
Select woman Tracy Cesan said she participated in the inaugural Agawam Relay and was amazed at the event.
“There were people there who were uplifting and people grieving recently lost loved ones,” Cesan said.
Chairman Arthur Pinell thanked Iacolo for inviting Southwick to participate in the Relay For Life and said he admired her philosophy.
The Relay For Life of Agawam is set for May 17-18 at Agawam High School. For more information, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit relayforlife.org/agawamma.
