‘March’ raises over $90K despite odds

Although this year’s organizing committee managed to attract only 15 teams for the 4th Annual Marianas March Against Cancer on Friday, the event still pulled in a whopping $92,250.53—some $32,000 higher than the $60,000 goal.

According to committee chair Tricia Tudela, the steering committee is overwhelmed with the amount they managed to raise during the event, which started Friday night and ended at 6am yesterday.

Tudela said they could not ask for more other than to thank the people, the business community and the local government for making the event wildly successful.

“Despite the short turnout of teams that participated this year, we were still surprised to find out that we have exceeded our $60,000 target and managed to make the most money,” she said. The committee had targeted 20 teams.

Tudela said there are so many sponsors and people to thank for making the event the most successful one ever since they started the fundraising event.

Teams that participated during the “March” were Pacific Telecom Inc., DFS Galleria, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Pacific Islands Club, Team Ahu, Team Bodig, Grace Christian Academy, Saipan International School, Hopwood Junior High School, Joeten Motors, Team Hinemlo with Bank of Guam, Whispering Palms School, Team Crime Prevention, FHP TakeCare, and Kagman High School.

BIG WINNERS

Fifteen teams vied for the special prizes during the event.

For Best Tent, Team Hinemlo of the Bank of Guam won the category, while Pacific Islands Club wowed the judges with their baton, a piece of wood that was carved into latte stones on both ends, and with a synthetic leaf ornament representing the rich culture of the Commonwealth.

Saipan International School proved to be the Most Spirited Team during the night while Team Bodig topped the Most Luminary award for sharing $5,050 worth of luminary candles. Hopwood Junior High School conquered the oval with the Most Laps.

The winners of the Most Money Raised were: Team Bodig with Shell Marianas for the Family Category, with $8,817.93; Pacific Islands Club for the Corporate Category, with $23,551.52; Grace Christian Academy for the School Category, with $2,739.52; and Crime Prevention Team for the non-profit government organization category, with $3,260.

EMOTIONAL EVENING

The night started slow as there were several other activities coinciding with the event Friday night, but people started swarming into the Hopwood field from 9pm onwards when the Luminary Ceremony started.

During the opening program, at least 25 cancer survivors were honored. Emotions ran high as survivor Nora Sablan called them one by one on stage to receive a yellow medal of valor. Many broke into tears when their families accompanied them to receive the medallion.

Commonwealth Cancer Association officer Dr. Jack Hardy, a cancer survivor himself, gave them the medals and congratulated them for successfully battling the disease every year.

Former Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Alex Sablan personally gave his wife Nora the medal and a touching embrace for battling the disease for almost three years now.

Lynn Knight, a skin cancer survivor for 11 years, was also overcome with emotion during her welcome speech. She recalled how her father had succumbed to the same disease after ignoring the signs that something was wrong with him.

Knight was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1995. “Since that time I have managed my own check-ups, managed my treatments,” she said.

She said, though, that the CNMI needs more services for cancer treatment, especially visits by specialists.

SUPPORTERS

Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela also spoke, saying that the Marianas March Against Cancer has become the biggest fundraising event on Saipan. “Here, we bring together our local community to support our cancer victims and survivors at the grass roots level,” he added.

CNMI beauties 2005 Miss Marianas Shequita Bennett, 2005 Liberation Day Queen Yvonne Passi, 2006 Miss Marianas Teen Myana Welch, 2005 Little Miss Marianas Kaylin Celis and Little Miss Marianas runner-up Aldreen Adriano also graced the event.