News Items - Page 1

Ten-year-old Brianna DeVivo, a student at St. Mary-St. Joseph School in Willimantic, has put together her own Relay For Life team.

By Heather Lake
Chronicle Staff Writer

It's a celebration, a memorial and a rally all in one and 10-year-old Brianna DeVivo of Willimantic wanted to be a part of it. The annual Windham area Relay For Life is a chance for survivors, family members and other supporters to make a difference in the American Cancer Society's fight for a cure. Although Brianna and her family haven't lost anyone to cancer, they decided last year to participate in what her mother, Kerry DeVivo, said is a great community event.

Last year the mother-daughter duo co-captained a relay team together, but this year Brianna took the reins."I decided to do it because I thought it would be neat," said Brianna, a fifth-grader at St. Mary-St. Joseph School. As team captain over the 15 families that joined the "St. Mary-St. Joseph Saints," Brianna has been responsible for handing out T-shirts and making sure team members raise the pledges they need.

The team's original goal was $1,000 but Brianna said they have already raised more. More than 20 of Brianna's schoolmates are part of the team and she said she is looking forward to Saturday.

"When you help other people they smile and I like seeing other people happy," Brianna said.
Both Brianna's parents are active in charitable organizations within the community and Brianna is apparently following in their footsteps."It's just her nature," said her proud mother. "She's the firstborn child and she takes control of things."

This year Brianna will be one of nearly 2,000 relay participants walking toward the goal of raising $200,000 for cancer research, education, advocacy and service programs. If they reach that goal they will have raised about $10,000 more than last year and a whole lot more than the $33,000 raised in the first Windham area relay in 1997. Relays take place at different times of the year across the nation.

The theme for this year's relay, which takes place this weekend is "Our Stars Shine Both Day and Night." it begins at the Eastern Connecticut E State University baseball complex in Mansfield at 11:00 a.m. Saturday and ends in the same place at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Participants come from and over, Ashford, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Hebron, Lebanon, Mansfield, Scotland, Willington and Windham.

While there are fewer teams than last year, there are about 500 more participants, said Shawn Maynard, event chairman, and there is still time to join the 95 teams which have signed up so far.

"It's never too late, anyone can come right to the event and register to walk then," Maynard said. "We welcome them to be there." The entire event takes place at ECSU with an opening ceremony for cancer survivors who make the first lap around the track and are then treated to a brunch sponsored by Windham Community Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, the official opening ceremony takes place and the others start walking.

Brianna said she encouraged people to join her team by re- minding them why they are walking.
"It's a good cause because it helps people," Brianna said. "And, it saves their lives."
For more information check out these web sites: www.windhamrelayforlife. org, www.cancer.org or call (800) ACS-2345.