Relay for Life of Barrington Raises more than $100k for Cancer Research

Relay for Life of Barrington teams have raised $147,562 in donations for the American Cancer Society and is ready to hold the society’s signature event on Friday.

“Barrington has always been passionate about Relay for Life,” chairwoman Eleanor Sweet McDonnell said. “It is definitely a community event.”

The relay’s opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Friday, June 5 at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. The closing ceremony is at 6 a.m. Saturday, June 6.

Relay for Life is one of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) most well known fundraisers. Events are held throughout the country to raise money for cancer research.

In May, the ACS began celebrating 100 years of saving lives from cancer and creating a world with more birthdays, said Robyn Martin, American Cancer Society event organizer. “By lending your support to Barrington’s Relay this year, you’ll be lending your support to the Society’s efforts to finish the fight and bring an end to cancer as we know it,” she said.

Relay for Life of Barrington has several distinctive events going on, like the Mr. Barrington contest. Contestants, including Barrington High School Principal Stephen McWilliams, will dress in drag and collect money from the crowd. Whoever gets the most donations, wins the title, McDonnell said. Miss Illinois Teen Kristen Mlady will be there to crown the winner.

Teams will also try to break a World Record for the largest number of birthday cakes in one location. Barrington broke the record for the number of cupcakes at one location, 17,000 last year, McDonnell said.

New this year is a movie and karaoke. Anyone can pay $1 to add a name to the list or pay $1 to get his or her name off the list, McDonnell said. The goal was to provide more activities overnight, she said.

There are 400 people participating and 64 teams, according to the Cancer Society’s website.

“I’m billing this as the largest sleepover in Barrington. It’s the largest celebration,” McDonnell said.

Details on the events are available on RFL of Barrington’s website. It is the only RFL in America that has it’s own website, she said. Brian Dunlap, of Designed Social Media in Barrington, set up the website and has been managing the group’s social media, she said.