Relay for Life: Fundraising for a Cure
The tiny room that makes up Just Jakes bar and restaurant was dimly lit. Fifteen bar stools lined the long counter while small, square shaped tables sat scattered around the floor. A black stage stretched from one wall to the next with three steps going up, four microphone stands and a wooden chair. The air was hot and heavy reeking of burgers and beer. And the decorations told the rest of the story.
Purple and white balloons engraved with the Relay for Life logo were tied to several seats and two large white banners hung above the stage uttering the dates of the upcoming events. Promotion flyers for the night were taped onto the walls and scattered on table tops. Guests were greeted at the door by a team of Relay for Life directors asking for donations upon entry.
Relay for Life is an overnight walk held across the country in a fight against cancer with the overwhelming hope of eventually finding a cure. Members of each team walk throughout the night to symbolize that “cancer never sleeps…and for one night, neither do we.” The Montclair State Relay for Life team partnered with Just Jakes to put on an open mic night fundraiser where a total of $656 was raised and donated directly to the American Cancer Society to fund groundbreaking research, patient care services and so much more!
Singers, musicians, artists, comedians and many others joined together to put on a few hours of song-singing and laughter. Some sang songs of empowerment and inspiration to lift the spirits of those battling cancer and let them know they’re not alone. Others strummed original songs on a guitar or funny Spongebob Squarepants pieces on a ukulele. One student even put his comedy to the test and cracked some jokes for the audience.
“It was a really fun night,” said Stephanie Schieder, MSU student who sang ‘Something in the Water’ by Carrie Underwood at the event. “It was a great opportunity to bring people together to raise money for something that has probably affected them in some way or another.”
The event went on from six o’clock to midnight where bar and restaurant goers were suggested to give a $10 donation at the door. With their donation, they received a small cancer awareness ribbon stamped on their hand and 10% off their food order for the night.
None of this would have been made possible though, without the help and passion of Cori Mastropolo. Mastropolo is a senior at MSU and this years’ director of Relay for Life. While this is her first time organizing Relay for Life, she is no stranger to planning big events just like it.
Back in 2015, Mastropolo hosted an event called Skate for Blood’s Sake at the Florham Park Roller Rink where she worked at the time. The event was held in honor of her father and all those battling with leukemia and lymphoma, in order to raise money and awareness for the disease. She brought family members and old friends together at once to show her dad the support system he had behind him and encourage him and many others to never give up and never stop fighting.
“I may not be strong now,” Cori Mastropolo said in a twitter post. “But my hope to find a cure is stronger than it has ever been. Cancer has taken one too many family members of mine.”
Today, Mastropolo says her dad is in remission and doing well. Due to the overwhelming support and success of her event, she raised over $3,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and was nominated as the 2015 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Woman of the Year. Now, she is more passionate than ever to raise money and find a cure for cancer as she gets ready for Relay for Life at Montclair State University.
“When I first saw the position for director of relay for life I instantly thought Cori would be perfect for the job.” George Koutsaradis said, SGA vice president and Mastropolo’s boyfriend. “She’s dedicated, compassionate, and self-less. Cancer is one of those things in life that has hit all of us in some way somehow. For Cori it’s been around her for her entire life and I have never seen someone so passionate to see cancer end once and for all.”
To date, Relay for Life events all over the world have collectively raised over $5 billion that has been donated directly to the American Cancer Society. Over the years, this money has aided in cancer research grants, rides to and from treatment sessions for cancer patients, nights of free lodging at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge facilities and much more.
According to the Relay for Life website, “Every single dollar raised at a Relay for Life event impacts the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives and celebrate life.” This years’ goal is set at $60,000 for students, faculty members, family and friends to raise at Montclair State University’s event.
