Pier A Park was transformed into a rainbow of hope - and help - as the Ninth Annual Hoboken Relay for Life took place on Saturday, May 21, 2011 to benefit for the American Cancer Society.

Cancer survivors wore purple. Orange-shirted committee members assisted maroon-shirted team captains and team members garbed in wide array of colors. A sea of white tents offered shelter from both the sun and the showers that day.

And just across Sinatra Drive, spinners and their bikes took over the sidewalk as Club H Fitness held its Seventh Annual Spin for Life in conjunction with the Relay for Life event.

Relay for Life

Every Relay for Life, no matter where it takes place – in one of 5,000 communities in this country or in one of nineteen other countries – features traditions which remind participants to “celebrate, remember and fight back.”

So of course, the Hoboken event featured the Survivors Lap, Luminaria Ceremony and Fight Back Ceremony, but for many young and old, another highlight of the day was surely the arrival of “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro of Carlo’s Bakery with the brightly colored Survivors’ Cake.

The rain may have ended the event earlier than anticipated, around 9pm rather than 11pm, but it couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of participants, who raised in excess of $165,000.

Said Erica Mannen of the Hoboken Relay for Life PR committee, “It was an absolutely outstanding event!”

“Eye Make a Difference” was recognized as the top team, followed by “Purple Hearts” and then “Team Vartabedian”. Elissa Weinberg, with team “Isaac’s Army”, was the top fundraising participant, raising $5,930 individually.

The 48 teams included “Hoboken Volunteers”, “HOHA Cares”, “Camille’s Angel’s”, “Bon Jovi Rocks”, “Tattooed Hope”, and “Stella Smiles”.

But Mannen added that a special mention must be made of “Team Roberts”. Not only did they participate in the day’s event, but back on March 31, 2011, $15,000 was raised in a single night at East L.A.!

Said former Mayor David Roberts, “This is coming from our family to recognize the support Anna has received throughout the year and to demonstrate our commitment to finding a cure for cancer.”

Roberts’s wife, Anna, was diagnosed with glioblastoma 16 months ago, but has been in remission for six months now.  “I’m just grateful to everyone who has helped, all the friends and family and community...,” she said and added “I’m happy to be living to see how everyone came out to support my family and myself.”

Spin for Life

Even before the Relay for Life kicked off at 11am, spinners were already sweating and pedaling away. From 8-10am, hardcore spinners joined a two hour “Super Spin” with Club H Senior Trainer and spin instructor Robert Esmond, followed by an hour long session with Jersey City Club H Fitness spin instructor Larissa Drennan, and the event finished off with Club H Hoboken Personal Training Manager Ashley Ntansah at the helm, or bike, as it were.

Esmond has been participating for the past six years. “I’ve had at least two family members stricken and succumb, so that’s motive enough,” he said. “But beyond that, it’s great to be a part of this benefit that does make a difference for others!”

“I think it was a huge success,” said Ntansah.  “I thought the energy was great from start to finish.”

“But I think mine had the best energy,” he added with a laugh.

Like Esmond, Ntansah has a personal connection to the event. “I lost my Dad to prostate cancer three years ago,” he explained. “This is a way for me to pay tribute to him, and it’s my contribution to helping researchers find medicines that will improve quality of life – and ultimately a cure.”

Hoboken resident Mike Jenkins did three of the four hours of spinning. A triathlete himself, Jenkins was introduced to spinning by his wife. After three hours sweating and spinning, his first impulse was: “I’m gonna go to sleep now!”

Then he added, “It’s awesome. I’m happy to contribute and get something positive out of it as well!”

The Spin for Life portion of the event raised $11,090 according to Club H Vice President of Marketing Adam Kilpatrick. Said Kilpatrick, “We’ll keep doing it every year until we find a cure!”

More info

To learn more about The American Cancer Society’s educational, support, research and fundraising programs, go to http://www.cancer.org/. For more information on the Hoboken Relay for Life, visit ascevents.org.

Club H Fitness is located at 110 Sinatra Drive. Go to www.clubhfitness.com for details.

PHOTOS BY KRISTA KELLY