Relay to remember
Austin Sperl has been volunteering with the American Cancer Society for four years, so the Washington High School senior is well aware of the importance of the nonprofit’s role in raising money to find a cure.
But his involvement recently became a bit more personal after his father, Mark Sperl, 59, was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
In honor of his father, Austin has spearheaded efforts to organize a Relay for Life event in Washington, recruiting, with ease, several of his classmates to help make the initial fundraiser one to remember.
“It’s really important,” Austin said. “I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time.”
“I always wondered why the Washington County relay was at Chartiers-Houston. This is one that the town can own. It will be a nice Sunday activity.”
The first student-run Relay for Life in Washington County has the blessing of ACS, with Dillon Spencer, community manager for Relay for Life – youth engagement, offering plenty of suggestions to help the students raise money and meet their financial goal.
The relay will be held from 3 to 10 p.m. May 15 at Wash High football stadium, with a survivor ceremony at 6 p.m., a Fight Back program at 7:30 and a luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m.
In addition, there will be various activities and entertainment, plus a 50/50 raffle.
Nearly 20 students are actively running the show, with members of the National Honor Society taking lead roles on various committees. They include:
• Bring the People – Alana Luppino;
• Build the Fun – Mikala Maltony;
• Fund the Mission – Ciara Stewart;
• Community Champion – Mackenzie Griffin;
• Team Ambassador – Jordan West;
• Survivor – Tajah Haley;
• Marketing – Isaac Pleta;
• Logistics – Tommy Nicolella;
• Activities and Entertainment – Rilie Bennardini and Blake Smith;
• Ceremonies – London Bogden;
• Fundraising and Sponsorship – Laura Wicker;
• Accounting – Nicole Hoffman;
• Mission – Morgan Pattison;
• Online – Frankie Stofan;
• Luminaria – Maria Sova and Jamie Moore.
“I think it’s a great organization to begin with, and it’s a universal cause,” said Alana Luppino, who has volunteered at other ACS events, including the society’s annual dinner-dance.
And even though she has a monumental job as the Bring the People lead, she isn’t worried.
“We’re getting as many people aware as possible,” Alana said. “A lot of us have connections to business people.”
Other students who are helping – and participating – are members of the band, football, soccer, cross country, rifle and track teams, drama club and cheerleaders.
Dillon was happy to hear that Austin wanted to start a relay in Washington. The two grew up together and continued to stay in touch after Dillon graduated from high school.
Plus, Dillon has forged many good friendships since becoming involved with Relay for Life in 2008 when he volunteered at the Greene County event.
“I immediately fell in love with it,” Dillon said. “I love it. It means something. All anybody wants to do is raise that $1.”
Most of the money raised locally funds cancer research in Pittsburgh and at West Virginia University.
Austin’s mother, Michelle Sperl, is serving as relay adviser for the school district. The district’s goal, she said, is to field 25 teams with 225 participants and raise $25,000.
“And we want 25 survivors. They are the heart and soul of the relay,” she said.
The relay is open to all businesses, churches, organizations and residents. So far, 17 teams with 144 participants are registered, and more than $6,500 has been raised. Corporate sponsorships also are available.
Students will be accepting donations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 28 on Main Street in Washington, and they will hold a car wash from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 8 in the high school parking lot. All money will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
“We should keep this running,” said Austin, who hopes to leave his legacy by passing the Relay for Life torch to a junior who was recently inducted into the National Honor Society.
To learn more about the relay, visitors are welcome to attend the committee’s next meeting at 6 p.m. April 13 in the high school cafeteria. To register a team or make a donation to the Washington School District’s Relay for Life, visit http://relayforlife.org/washingtonschooldistrictpa. For sponsorship inquiries, contact Dillon Spencer of the American Cancer Society at 724-222-6911 or dillon.spencer@cancer.org.