"Dedicated teams, volunteers, sponsors and community members came together over the past year to help our committee raise over $72,645," said event chair Marsha Resch during the closing of the 20th annual Relay for Life of Tamaqua and Surrounding Communities. "We had a lot of great new ideas."

Like last year, the Relay was held at the Panther Valley Stadium. "About two dozen teams consisting of about 280 visitors and participants took part in the two- day event," said Caylan Chanwik, income development representative of the American Cancer Society, East Central Division. Many of the activities during the 24-hour event consisted of singing, dancing, and more.Resch, who has volunteered three years as event chair, expressed her appreciation to the Panther Valley School District, volunteers, sponsors and participants for the time and dedication to the Relay.One of the new attractions at this year's event included the incorporation of a lap counter. Walkers and runners were encouraged to wear a barcoded wrist band as they passed by a reader."Scanned participants traveled a combined total of over 1,200 miles/4,827 laps," said lap counter coordinator David Rehrig. Teams placing top were St Luke's Miners (1,236 laps/309 miles), Praying for a Cure (763 laps/191 miles), Luther's Angels (385 laps) and Lady Wreckers (380 laps).Individuals placing top were Amie Yenser (145 laps/36.25 miles), Christian Westpy (136 laps/34 miles), Stephen Oravec (124 laps) and Lyddia Malaska (123 laps)."Although the Hometown Farmer's Market location has served us well in prior years, we continue to be extremely grateful to the Dunn Family and area sponsors for their wonderful generosity and support," added Chanwik, who stressed that the stadium holds many benefits, such as covered bleachers, a large grassy area on which teams placed tent sites and the Panther Valley Band Boosters concession stand. "The general consensus was that a stadium atmosphere would allow all parts of a Relay to be closer together and create a community feeling that a Relay is all about."The Relay started off with an opening ceremony held to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, to inspire hope by sharing recent accomplishments and progress, and to remind everyone that while we are winning this battle, fighting cancer is a year-round priority.During the survivors' lap, upbeat music played as all cancer survivors and caretakers at the event took the first lap around the track cheered on by the other participants, celebrating their victory over cancer."Caregivers are fundamental to the success during the fight against cancer," said survivor chair Amie Yenser. "They provide physical and emotional support, and are tremendously appreciated by the survivors.""God bless all who give back the strength to survive," said cancer survivor Susan Generose, who works at Blue Mountain Health Systems in Palmerton."Prayer does help," said recent cancer survivor Mary Hosler of Tamaqua. Hosler just overcame battles with papilloma and thyroid papilloma.The luminaria ceremony, held Saturday night, was a time for people to remember those lost to cancer, to support people who currently have cancer, and to honor people who have fought cancer in the past.During the Relay, hundreds of candle-lit luminarias were placed around the track and in bleachers in honor of those currently battling cancer and to remember those lost to the disease. Some luminarias in the bleachers were placed to spell out "HOPE"."The Fight Back Ceremony symbolizes the emotional commitment we each make to the fight against cancer," said Resch. "The action we take represents what we are willing to do for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for our community to fight cancer year-round and to commit to saving lives."The closing ceremony is a time to remember the lives of those lost and to celebrate that each of us has committed, through our participation in a Relay event, to fight back against this disease over the next year.Also donating their entertainment services was DJ John Swierczek and performers Angela Nardini, Sydney Brannon, Victoria Lear and Matt Handley.Committee members expressed their appreciation to the Lansford Borough and Panther Vally School Board for prepping the streets and doing other maintenance tasks before the relay.Resch and Chanwik said donations are still being collected for this year's Relay until Aug. 31.She added that the American Cancer Society is available 24/7 and can be reached by calling (800) 227-2345 or by going to Cancer.org.