Marlborough/Hudson event benefits American Cancer Society 

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Marlborough/Hudson event benefits American Cancer Society 
Relay participants walk laps around Ward Park. (Photo/Ed Karvoski Jr.)

MARLBOROUGH/HUDSON – The annual Relay for Life of Marlborough/Hudson took place on Saturday at Marlborough’s Ward Park.

Teams of walkers and individuals raised funds for the American Cancer Society.

The fundraiser was traditionally a 12-hour overnight event until COVID-19 hit in 2020, prompting that year’s Marlborough/Hudson relay to run virtually. This weekend’s event then marked the second year that an in-person Marlborough/Hudson relay returned with a shorter running time.

Relay committee members envision that the traditional timeline and all activities will ultimately return, event chair Marcia Place noted.

“I’m really a proponent of trying to bring everything back to the relay that we’ve lost over the last few years,” she said.

Cancer survivor Nao Ishibashi, a Zumba instructor at Hudson’s Crunch Fitness, spoke about focusing on the present during the opening ceremony of this year’s relay. Later, she led a Zumba session with relay participants.

The relay began with a survivors lap, which also included caregivers. Place walked in this lap as a cancer survivor herself.

“Survivors are the main reason for doing these events,” she said. “We celebrate the survivors who made it through their battles and are still here fighting the good fight.”

DJ Steve Woodward played music throughout the event. Live music was provided by the pop/punk band Color Killer. Mary Dragon led a line-dancing session with relay participants.

The relay ended with a silent remembrance lap alongside luminaria bags lining the track. Participants created luminarias to honor loved ones affected by cancer.

Donate and learn more about the local relay at relayforlife.org/marlborohudsonma and facebook.com/RFLMarlboroughHudson.

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