RELAY FOR LIFE MCU PARK: MARINE PARK, MILL BASIN, BERGEN BEACH

RELAY FOR LIFE MCU PARK: MARINE PARK, MILL BASIN, BERGEN BEACH

By: Matthew Blittner

On June 10th, 2017 the neighborhoods of Marine Park, Mill Basin, and Bergen Beach -- from south Brooklyn -- gathered at the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, MCU Park, for their annual Relay For Life fundraiser.

Relay For Life is a community based cancer charity event that is part of the American Cancer Association. 

For many community members, they have either lost a loved one to cancer, or they know somebody close to them that has cancer or has beaten the disease. 

Back in the 1970s, Brooklyn, New York, was filled with many close-knit communities in which neighbors were as close as could humanly be.

In today's Brooklyn, that is no longer the case as many communities are more diversified than ever, and that has led to far less community relationships. However, there are three neighborhoods in south Brooklyn, where there are still strong inter-community ties. These neighborhoods are Marine Park, Mill Basin, and Bergen Beach. 

For the most part, everybody knows each other or knows somebody who knows the next person. As such, these three neighborhoods have joined together for Relay For Life fundraisers for over half a decade.

Last year the decision was made to move the event from the Bergen Beach fields to MCU Park in Coney Island.

Part of the event is the luminaria, a survivor reception, apparel sales, merchandise tables, opening ceremony, survivor lap, relay after dark, raffles, and a closing ceremony.

For most people, this is a day filled with fundraising, remembrance of loved ones, and fun games. 

The planning that goes into the event takes close to a year of hard work, and I would be remiss if I didn't give credit to those individuals who made this year's event possible.

Bonnie Herman, Kathie Smith, Ronni & Wayne Roth Stein, Liz Currey, Fran Rock, Jon Sosis, Shannon Young, Joe Dai, Debbie Judge, Lindsey Coyle, and Joe Gillette are the hard working individuals who make this yearly event possible.

As of Saturday night June 24th, the group has raised $113,447 to fight against cancer. 

Major kudos to them for their hard work and it is well deserved. Their next event is a night out at the Ballpark for a Brooklyn Cyclones game on July 15th. Here's to their continued success and hopefully a cure will soon be found for this disease.