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Juliette Montes

Relay for life is taking real strides to changing people’s lives. The club has raised over $7,000 that will go to the American Cancer Society, making Charter the number one contributor out of all the schools in Broward County. This has earned their rightful and worthy time in the spotlight.

Relay for Life is much more than just a walk or race, it’s a fundraising event where the community comes together to fight back against cancer, celebrate cancer survivors, and remember the lives lost. The money raised goes to the American Cancer Society; this will then aid the doctors in their research and support patients to progressively improve their lives. 

The club was brought to Charter almost 15 years ago, and is still dedicated to the cause. Fast forward to 2023, and the club is more successful than ever before. Mrs. Hyacinth has been the sponsor of the relay club since 2016 and was eager to share her thoughts on the recent success of the club saying “I’m really proud of the kids, this year they’ve put so much effort into it, and I think we’re probably going to make the most money we’ve ever made this year.”

As the club nears in on raising $8,000, they remain modest, and grateful to be in a position where they can help people in need. Coralie Richardson, co-sponsorship leader for the club, humbly expressed “We mainly just wanted to raise money; then we realized how hard we were working, and didn’t even notice that we were ranked number one in the county.” She continued saying “We want to continue being number one and continue raising the most money because we know it’s gonna go help those in need.

But no amount of money raised can compare the impact that Charter’s Relay For Life  is having on a community level. This will be the third consecutive year that Charter has hosted the relay event. Hosting the relay is a tremendous honor, and truly shows the trust that the community has in Charter to manage such a powerful fund-raiser. The event starts with a survivor dinner where both people currently battling cancer and cancer survivors are invited to the cafeteria for dinner. This intimate and warm dinner is then followed by a Luminaria event where lanterns are lit for all the lives that were unfortunately lost to cancer.

Relay for life isn’t only contributing to the community as a whole, but is affecting each and every person in it; including its own members. For one, Coralie Richardson  joined the Relay For Life club her freshman year of high school after her uncle had tragically passed of cancer three years prior, and is now relaying for her cousin who was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. “I’m able to see what she’s going through, and it’s really hurtful to see her in the hospital. So I relay for her.” Since joining she has learned to live in the moment, be aware of her surroundings, and help those who need it most.

With the relay months away, there are already high expectations for the success of the event. By just the effort alone, it’s clear to see how important this cause is to every person contributing to the relay. From the money they’ve raised to the hearts they’ve touched, Charter’s Relay For Life is doing it like no other.