The Stoneham Committee is celebrating pre-event success by surpassing their first year goal of $50,000. 

As of June 19, the online tally board reads: 

• 362 Participants.  
• 38 Teams.  
• $69,614 Raised. The committee fully expects this number to continue to go up.  

Maureen McGinness, event chairperson, stated that she couldn't be more impressed and humbled with how all of the teams and participants are enthusiastically and generously contributing to the event success. 

"This event is organized solely by the community...," McGinness said. In fact she has repeatedly said: "Stoneham: a small town with a big heart!"

While there is great joy in celebrating this success, they are saddened by the loss of committee member Lena Crowley, fondly referred to as "Momma Lena."

Crowley was an amazing woman who lost her courageous battle to breast cancer on Monday, June 11. She was 72 years old. 

Lena was so proud to be part of the Stoneham Committee and had been involved with Relay For Life for several years even prior to her cancer diagnosis.

"Losing Lena reminds us how real and unfair cancer can be and why it is so important to participate in Relay," McGinness said. "We will continue to do so until there is a world without cancer and where we celebrate more birthdays. 

"We will all celebrate her life, the impact she made on all of us and remember her with love on Saturday."

Lena’s spirit will be at Relay with her family and two daughters who are also on the committee; Diane Norton of Stoneham (and Mom to team captains of K.O. Cancer and The Pink of Perfection) and Karen Bieren of Tewksbury (and Mom to team captain of Cancer Fighters).

The committee invites the Stoneham community to come and celebrate survivors, remember loved ones lost and help fight back against cancer from 5-11 p.m. at the Stoneham High School football field. 

The event is open to the public and is a family fun one with tons of cool stuff for kids and a Relay Marketplace where you can purchase tickets to be eligible to win various gift baskets and donated items.

The committee would also like invite cancer survivors to attend the event and be honored with a dinner for themselves and a guest. There is an optional Survivor lap around the track at 6 p.m. The committee wants to make sure that survivors know they do not need to walk but should come to be honored and just enjoy dinner and the event.

It’s not too late to get involved! For more information, contact Lesley Fawcett at the American Cancer Society at 781-314-2683, Maureen McGinness at 781-435-0182 or visit the Relay for Life Stoneham website.