MOUNT CARMEL - The organizers and participants of the Mount Carmel Area Relay For Life loved having the event in the town park so much that they have already decided to come back next year.
Police Chief Todd Owens, during the closing ceremonies, told the final lap participants that all the feedback he received was that the town park was better than the Silver Bowl and whoever had the idea to switch deserved and award.
"The park is so under utilized, and it was good getting people coming back to it," he said.
Co-chairwomen Ashley Pyle agreed, describing the amount of interaction between the 10 teams.
"It was amazing. Everyone came together as a group," she said.
At the Silver Bowl in previous years, people were spread out and there was very little shade to take cover under from the hot sun, she said.
Unlike the stadium, town park does not have a circular track. So organizers weaved walking paths throughout the property, which Pyle alluded to in the opening ceremony by telling the organizers Saturday that cancer, too, doesn't take the same path. Melissa Katch, accounting/registration chair, said she was pleased with the camaraderie of the teams as well.
Also, the fact that the event coincided with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church picnic "was a benefit to both organizations," she said.
Pyle said one of the highlights of the 24 hours was the crowning of Ms. Relay, a competition geared toward the guys at the relay. The gentlemen wore evening gowns, dresses or grass skirts, and then asked for donations from the crowd. Whichever man had the most money at the end of the competition was crowned the winner.
Borough Police Patrolman Matthew Dillman beat four other competitors with a black wig and short black dress.
The goal of the Relay was $23,000, but only $19,000 was collected by the end of the Relay at noon Saturday.
However, Ilyse Hampton, staff partner for the American Cancer Society, said more funds are expected to be brought in the next few weeks, and two more events - a softball tournament and a kids' activity - are tentatively planned for later this year.
The goal is expected to be reach with the additional events, she said.