Southern Brooklyn cancer warriors came out in force for Coney Island’s first Relay for Life event on June 10.
Cancer survivors and their families packed MCU Park for the American Cancer Society event, which featured numerous activities that celebrated their bravery and helped locals deal with the emotional stress cancer can bring, said an organizer.
“It gives people a chance to say goodbye to the loved ones they lost this year and to give people hope,” said Kim Williams, who has lost several family members to cancer over the years. “Cancer affects everybody in our community, you know, but it’s something we can all have an impact on.”
More than 400 people filled the field, where they marched along the diamond, competed in box car races, and literally screamed for ice cream in the “I Scream For A Cure” contest, in which the loudest shriek won free ice cream for a week at Sundaes By The Park in Marine Park.
Once the sun set, dozens of revelers engaged in line dancing in the moonlight — dubbed “lunar line dancing” for the night. The event culminated with the lighting of hundreds of LED-illuminated “luminary bags” bearing the names of cancer victims.
“It was really great,” Williams said. “It was a good time and helped people come together and heal as a community.”
