Volunteers in Yorktown “Paint the Town Purple”

Yorktown was practically vibrating with color as the town awoke to “Paint the Town Purple Day” on Friday. Volunteers decorated the streets and sidewalks, shop owners decked out their storefronts, residents and students donned purple ribbons, sweaters or hats -- even school buses demonstrated “the power purple.” 

Meanwhile, in the schools students and staff created links for a “Chain of Hope,” which will be displayed during the night of the Relay.

“This is one of the most magnificent days in Yorktown,” Supervisor Susan Siegel said on Friday as she proclaimed it 'Relay For Life Day.' “As somebody whose spouse has survived cancer, my heartfelt thanks [goes to the volunteers and committee]. Not only do you raise money for an important cause but it’s got to be [a lot] of fun doing it!”

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s annual nationwide all-night marathon in honor of cancer survivors. The color purple is used, said Monica Garrigan, the ACS’s Community Executive, “because it represents all cancers.”

PTTP Day is traditionally held on the first Friday of May – exactly five weeks before the actual Relay event. This year Relay will start on June 10 at 7 p.m. and continue until 7 a.m. the following morning. The evening begins with a dinner reception for cancer survivors and their caregivers. At nightfall, participants light thousands of luminary candles in a moving ceremony to honor both victims and survivors. Various activities are planned throughout the night while people take turns making laps around a track to raise funds for cancer.

Last year more than 2500 people attended the event. Organizers hope for an even larger turnout this year. This would be Yorktown’s sixth Relay. 108 teams have signed up and raised more than $82,004.

Yorktown is the number one fundraising town in Westchester for Relay, Garrigan said.

“This town is phenomenal” she said. “It’s an event that really brings the community together. There isn’t anyone who doesn’t want to be involved.”

The numbers are the proof of the community’s enthusiasm and dedication.

“We are hoping to surpass $1 million” this year in total for all the years Yorktown has been participating,” Relay Co-Chair, Jane McCarthy said. “Last year we raised $280,000 and this year we are going for $300,000. Yorktown power is alive and well.”

A sold-out evening of at  topped off Friday’s festivities.

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