By David Vitrano
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – When inclement weather threatened the already postponed St. John the Baptist Parish Relay for Life event Saturday, the local community once again came together to ensure the fundraiser would go on as planned.

The event, which raises money for the fight against cancer, was scheduled to take place at Highway 51 Park in LaPlace, but a flash flood watch in effect until early Sunday morning forced organizers to move Relay inside the St. John Community Center, located adjacent to the park. The one problem, however, was that Relay would have to use a portion of the funds it raised to pay the $3,500 fee for using the facility. While the American Cancer Society agreed to front the money, that money would still have to be paid back, so a group of businesses and concerned citizens including Fatty’s Main Street Grill, Richard Kliebert, Ronnie White and Formal Connection, All Star Electric, R.J. and Rochelle Ory, Sheriff Mike Tregre and Tanyia Tregre, Cool Concepts, Bill and Sherry Hubbard, Brock’s Automotive, St. John Parish Councilman Michael Wright and Rotolo’s Pizza came together to donate the money.

“The people of St. John did it in five hours,” said Barbara “Baba” Oncale. “When they really have something they believe in, the people of St. John come through.”

This initial act of generosity was just an omen of things to come as the event went on to raise about $24,000, bringing the total thus far to about $76,000. According to Relay for Life Chair Bryan Castillo, 33 teams participated this year, including a couple of new teams from Wal-Mart and Raising Canes.

“We met and exceeded our goals from last year,” said Castillo.

And that monetary total may rise even higher as dollars will continue to trickle in over the next few months. August will begin a new fundraising year.

Although much of the event was familiar to those who have participated in previous years — survivors walked around a makeshift track lined with luminaries as individual booths hawked snacks and games — many new aspects were added this year. This year’s event featured a blood drive and the lighting of floating luminaries, for example.

According to Castillo, one new activity, the Pretty Boy Contest in which male team representatives donned wigs, dresses and high heels and solicited donations from the crowd, raised $2,400 in just 15 minutes.

The tighter environs seemed to inject a liveliness to the event that can often seem absent when things are more spread out. With everyone just a stone’s throw away, those manning the booths were able to call out to those walking the track to buy raffle tickets or food or whatever was being offered.

The participation of many local schools also imbued some youthful vigor to the fundraiser. It probably also created some lifelong supporters of Relay for Life.

“Those kids really make the Relay exciting,” said Castillo.

The cinematic theme for the event was “Lights, Camera, Take Action,” and many of the booths reflected this.

All money raised benefits the American Cancer Society.