Weston Resident Gears Up for Another Relay for Life Fundraiser

The release below was submitted by Relay for Life.

Phil Belanger, Sue Harrison and Mei Wu love tennis – and they’re using their shared passion to make a difference in the fight against cancer. 

It started five years ago. Wu’s father had lost his battle with cancer and Harrison was a two-time breast cancer survivor. They wanted to find a way to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Newton-Brookline, but neither one was very good at fundraising, so they turned to Belanger, a well-connected, enthusiastic tennis player at the Weston Racquet Club. He knew how to get people excited and involved.

Belanger hosted a monthly tennis party, and in 2008, he began dedicating the April gathering to fundraising for the Relay. The Relay For Life of Newton-Brookline is an overnight community fundraising walk that raises funds for cancer research, treatment, advocacy, and education. For 12 hours, in teams of friends, family, and classmates, participants take turns walking around the track. There’s also food, games, and activities for the whole family – making it a celebration of life and survivors, while also remembering those lost to the disease and raising funds to fight back against cancer. This year, the Relay For Life will take place on June 1 at Forte Field in Newton.

Thanks to many generous donors and the Weston Racquet Club staff, the annual April tennis party has been a smashing success—raising more than $31,000 for the Relay over the past five years. Last year alone, the tennis fundraiser raised $9,315—making the Rally for Hope team one of the top Relay fundraisers.

This year the tennis/dinner fundraiser will take place on April 20 at 6 p.m. at the Weston Racquet Club (132 West Street, Waltham, MA 02451). Once again, the Rally for Hope team has collected a fabulous collection of auction items—including four VIP tickets and official souvenirs of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” There are also private tennis lessons, ski lift tickets, and restaurant gift certificates to be won. Non-tennis players are welcome to enjoy the hors d’oeuvres, dinner, auction and prizes.  For more information, please e-mail Mei Wu at newtonbrooklinerelay@gmail.com.

For more information on the Relay For Life of Newton-Brookline, or to make a donation to support the event, please visit the website: www.RelayForLife.org/NewtonBrooklineMA.