Schools

Barnegat's Relay for Life Has a Spirited Start

Volunteers for the American Cancer Society event kicked off the lead-up to the May relay Thursday night

Dakota Schrantz was thrilled that this year’s Relay for Life cancer fundraiser in Barnegat has a Disney theme.

Disney movies always remind her of her little brother Dustin, the Barnegat High School senior told a crowd of about 75 volunteers at the Relay for Life kickoff party at the Thursday night, because the two of them would watch the films endlessly when they were little. And memories of her brother are the reason she’s involved in Relay in the first place.

“Dustin was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 2,” Dakota said. She was 4, and their little brother Dean had just been born. She and Dustin were best friends growing up, she said, and though the visits to the hospital for his treatments were hard, she never missed one. Then it became clear that the only way to extend Dustin’s life was with a bone marrow transplant

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“It can be hard to find a match,” she said, “but with Dustin, there was one person who matched better than twins, and that was me. So at 8 years old, I gave my brother bone marrow.”

It let him live long enough to have his first communion and finish first grade, she said. It gave her family more memories to cherish forever. “I’m proud to have been a caregiver of Dustin Schrantz,” Dakota said.

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Everybody has their reasons for joining Relay for Life, event co-chair John Germano told the crowd. He got involved when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and this year he’ll be honoring her memory. Whatever is driving participants, he said, it’s amazing what teams can do when they work together. Now in its third year, Barnegat’s Relay – an all-day, all-night awareness event scheduled for May 18 this year – has raised more than $150,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The ACS organizes similar events around the globe, making it the largest nonprofit activity in the world, the charity says. Proceeds raised by participants go to cancer research and support programs for patients – including ones here in Ocean County.

The event is designed to be fun and entertaining for all involved, with contests and activities planned throughout the long night at the high school track. This year, the Disney theme will add to the fun. Thursday's kickoff party already saw plenty of spirit, with attendees donning Mickey Mouse ears and singing along to favorite soundtrack songs.

Barnegat's 2012 relay is expected to be bigger than ever, with a multi-generational committee of volunteer leaders leading the way and calling on friends, family and neighbors to join in the effort.

“We’ve got committee members from the elementary school right up to the high school, plus teachers and community members,” said Germano, who heads up the event along with Horbelt School nurse Alison Dwyer. 

“It’s like the whole town comes together,” said Barnegat High School senior Lauren Spain, who acts as student chair along with Dakota Schrantz. “It doesn’t happen often that you see everyone participate in one event.”

The kickoff event marks the start of a Relay recruitment drive that will last into the spring. To get involved, check out Barnegat’s own Relay for Life website to learn about starting your own team of participants.

Need help signing up? Contact Karen Flood at kflood@barnegatschools.com or John Germano at jgermano@barnegatschools.com.


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