HAVERHILL — Honoring survivors and those battling cancer, and remembering those who lost their life to cancer brought together hundreds of people for the recent Relay for Life, held earlier this month on the track at Northern Essex Community College.

One Haverhill woman who was in her 21st year leading a team that has raised more than $200,000 to find a cure for cancer, managed to complete a few laps in a wheelchair.

Donna Carbone, a cancer survivor who has led the Pentucket Kiwanis Donna's Team for two decades, announced her team raised $16,000 this year.

It is substantially more than this year's goal of $10,000, which is the average amount her team raises each year, according to her husband, Peter Carbone.

"In the days leading up to the Relay for Life, people were walking up to me handing me money and were leaving checks at our two stores (EZ-Way Cleaners in Bradford and Haverhill), and they were also mailing me checks," Peter Carbone said, noting that his wife was recently profiled in a story published by The Eagle-Tribune, which he said generated a lot of enthusiasm among Relay for Life donors.

Because Donna Carbone is still undergoing rehabilitation for a variety of illnesses, including numbness in her feet and hands, she was unable to walk the track as she had hoped. But she participated to the best of her ability.

"She did the Survivor's Lap, and two final laps at the end with friends and family taking turns pushing her wheelchair," her husband said. "Although we've raised $16,000 so far, we still have another month to go and we usually see donations come in after the event."

As of June 12, participating teams in this year's Haverhill Relay for Life helped raise $108,816 for the American Cancer Society, although, that number is expected to increase as donations are still rolling in. This year's goal is to raise $130,000.

Last year's Relay for Life raised $128,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Rosie's Riveters, led by Jay and Rose Flynn of Haverhill, was the top fundraiser at $24,000 and counting. It's been the leading team for the past three years.

The Flynns celebrated their seventh anniversary participating in the Haverhill Relay for Life. Both Jay and Flynn served as co-captains of their team.

Jay Flynn noted on his Relay for Life team web page that his reasons for participating in the event include the fact that his mother is a long-term breast cancer survivor, his father died of cancer in April of 2010, his wife, Rose, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2011 and will soon be an eight-year survivor, a fellow Relay participant and friend lost her 10 year battle with cancer, and his sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer two years.

"So as you can see, cancer is no stranger in our household," he said. "Unfortunately these days, nearly everyone you know has either been affected by cancer or knows someone who has in one form or another. We all need to do whatever we can, no matter how big or small the effort, to raise money for vital cancer research and for programs to help those diagnosed with cancer win the fight and lead a productive life."

Rose Flynn, a teacher's aide at the Tilton Elementary School, said her team's biggest fundraising event of the year, "Move for the Movement," a dance exposition held in January, raised $22,000. An additional $2,000 was raised by team members and donations are still coming in. 

"Over the past seven years we're raised almost $200,000 for the American Cancer Society," she said, noting that she walked 30 miles in 24 hours during this year's Relay for Life. 

TOP FIVE FUNDRAISING TEAMS AS OF JUNE 10:

Rosie's Riveters: $24,347

Pentucket Kiwanis - Donna's Team: $16,160

Riverside Church  - Trees of Hope: $8,616 

Team Integrity: $6,125

Pentucket Bank: $4,533 

Trending Video

Recommended for you