This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Barrington's Relay for Life Is Looking to Break Records

The entire Barrington community is invited to attend Relay for Life on Saturday, June 10 at the Barrington High School stadium at 6 p.m.

Since Joanne Dalessandro and her daughter Dina took over as co-chairs for Barrington’s Relay for Life this year, the event has reached record high numbers and looks to break more including a record with the World Record Academy.

The Barrington Relay for Life Team is going to attempt to construct the world’s largest cupcake tower/display in the Barrington High School field house.

“I originally thought of the idea to just get people interested in attending and almost immediately I had a number of people offering to help out and make it happen,” Dalessandro explained.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Her neighbor Jim Leopardo is using his construction business to build the base and platform for the tower. SweetPea Cakes, Millrose, Wynstone Golf Club, Piece of Cake Bakery, and the Lucky Monk are donating over 1,000 cupcakes for the display and afterwards they will be sold for $1.

Dalessandro has been pounding the pavement since the last Relay for Life event going to all the PTO’s, Rotary Club, and Lion’s Club and getting them involved. Because of her persistence, the Barrington Relay for Life Team broke their own record for having 108 new teams join this year and also broke the record for the state of Illinois.

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“After going to a poorly attended and advertised Relay for Life last year, I was really disappointed in Barrington,” Dalessandro said. “Seeing that and then going to two funerals within two weeks of each other of loved ones that died of cancer, I thought, I need to do something.”

She took on the duty as co-chair; a position that was previously vacant.

Since then Dalessandro has been using her own money, time, and connections to make this event the “biggest and best” Barrington has seen.

The goal for each event is to raise $250,000 and Dalessandro thinks they will surpass that goal and break another record for the most money ever raised for the Barrington Relay for Life event.

“Our teams have been going out and raising money for the event by getting businesses to give a portion of their sales to their team or just getting donations,” Dalessandro said.

On Tuesday, May 24, the team “Cupcakes for a Cause” hosted a Skin Care for a Cause fundraiser at Biaggi’s in Deer Park Center to raise funds for their team. Many other teams are doing similar fundraisers and will also be fundraising at the actual Relay for Life Event.

The event is on Saturday, June 10 at the Barrington High School Stadium starting off with a survivor dinner at 5 p.m.

“Anyone who is a cancer survivor is invited to attend the dinner,” Dalessandro said. “It’s not fancy or black tie, we are doing it for the first time and want people to have fun.”

Celebrity Pastry Chef and owner of TRU restaurant in Chicago, Gale Gand will be the guest speaker, as well as bring dessert for everyone and sign cookbooks, donating the proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

The actual relay will start at 6 p.m. with Herb Porter, jazz singer and survivor singing and leading the first lap.

Musician Ron Hawkins will sing, as well as groups from Barrington High School and other local community choirs. The local punk rock band, Flounder Gus will be taking the stage at 11 p.m.

“Since the event goes for 12 hours, we want to keep the momentum and fun going the entire time,” Dalessandro said.

At 10 p.m. the luminaria’s (candles inside a bag filled with sand) bearing a person’s name that was affected by cancer is lit and participants walk a lap in silence.

The event is free and open to the community. Sergio’s Pizza and Millrose restaurant will be selling food and refreshments at the event.

“We want anyone and everyone to come and be a part of this,” Dalessandro said.

A silent auction and chance raffle will be up for anyone to bid on or buy tickets. The auction items are an iPad 2, signed Patrick Kane Blackhawk’s jersey, vacation to Florida or Park City, Utah, and gift certificates from local businesses.

“Mark Beaubien donated a day as page in Springfield,” Dalessandro explained. “You’ll act as assistant to the representatives, and then Mark Beaubien will take you out to lunch and give you a tour of the capital.”

All proceeds for the Barrington Relay for Life go to the American Cancer Society to help find cures for cancer and fight back.

Relay teams can still register and will be until the day of event.

For more information go to http://www.relayforlifebarrington.com. To register for the survivor dinner call Janet Meyer at 847-381-2525.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?