Trustees Team Up for Relay for Life

Joining the fight against cancer are several members of the Huntington Board of Education. The BOE team is among the 66 registered teams who will gather at Huntington High School for the American Cancer Society's fundraising event Friday night.

Patch spoke with BOE team captain, trustee Tom DiGiacomo.

Q. Who are the members of the team?
A. All of the board members, in addition to my wife, have either signed on as a team member or made a donation to the team.
Q. How much (roughly) have you raised in pledges or do you hope to raise?
A. Our goal is $5,000, which we hope to reach before Friday. We have raised 80% or $4,035.
Q. What inspired you to do this?
A. Last year I attended the kickoff on the Friday night and was inspired. The many survivors who spoke as well as those that have been affected in our district so personally. On a personal side, I lost my brother in law to cancer a few years ago.
Q. Have you or other members of the team participated before?
A. I have not participated before. I know Adam (Spector) participated last year as a survivor and speaker during the event but do not know about the other board members.
Q. How did this come together--how did you decide to do this?
A. After the announcement for this years Relay and being inspired by last years event, I felt compelled to be involved. When I came home from the board meeting after the announcement about relay for life, I mentioned getting involved to my wife. She suggested I form a team with the rest of the board members. I spoke with some of the other trustees and got a positive response.
Q. Is there anything you want to say about the whole Relay for Life program?
A. It has been a wonderful experience so far. Attending the captains' meetings has been great. I have enjoyed watching our students in action. Their creative fundraising efforts, the clever team names as well as the efforts put forth by everyone to make this event a success. Mr. Cohen's ability to organize and energize the students is remarkable. The entire event so far, makes me proud to be not only a participant in this event but honored to be a trustee of our school district.