Crompond School Kicks off Relay for Life With a Dance

Students, teachers and staff members at Crompond School helped kick off Relay for Life with their own celebration Friday afternoon.

Fifth grade special education teacher Christine Orlando choreographed a dance for her and 10 other teachers to perform in front of students, which had no idea what their teachers had in store for them. 

"The reason why we're having this pep rally is because this is the first year Crompond is having a Relay for Life team," she said. "Of course Relay for Life is this evening, so in order to get the kids excited and also to celebrate our fundraising accomplishments, we decided to bring everyone together."

The "Crompond Cares" team has raised close to $3,500 with the help of about 100 teachers, parents and students. 

"It was a huge task that we took on," Orlando said. "But it's been so worth while and the kids have been loving it and having a great time fundraising."

After the dance, as one whole team students, teachers and staff members made a lap around the school in honor of Relay for Life since not everyone would have been able to make it to Yorktown's Relay for Life. 

Stacey Cummings, 5th grade teacher, the school wide event was able to bring them together as a school and also teach kids to do "altruistic endeavors" in the community. 

For music teacher Michelle Salustri, Relay for Life is close to her heart as her mother passed away of breast cancer five years ago.

"I really want to word to get out there and help raise money to support programs so that other families don't have to watch their parents and other family members go through this," she said. 

The following teachers performed the dance to "Let's Get Started" by the Black Eyed Peas: Christine Orlando, Stacey Cummings, Michelle Salustri, Val Stern, Jean Barber, Shelby Graf, Kathleen Muldoon, Lauren Reid, Pauline Quinones, Jen Strang and Bonnie Silver. 

More than 1,000 participants will gather at Jack Devito Memorial Field on Friday through Saturday morning. Nationwide, Relay For Life events have raised more than $3 billion since 1985, including more than $1 million in Yorktown in the past six years.

Relay For Life opens as cancer survivors walk, run, or otherwise move around the track for the first lap. A candlelight vigil held at nightfall will honor survivors and remember those lost to cancer. The luminaria candles will line the track and are left burning throughout the night as a reminder to participants the importance of their involvement in the Relay For Life event. 

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