GREENFIELD — With Relay For Life of Franklin County having wrapped up another fundraising season, $95,683.66 is heading to the American Cancer Society.
While the total was just shy of the event’s fundraising goal of $100,000, Chris Luippold, one of three co-chairs of Relay For Life of Franklin County, said organizers were pleased with the amount raised and, more importantly, with the community support behind it.
“Any penny that we raise we can send to the American Cancer Society in an attempt to find a cure and to eliminate this awful disease,” Luippold said. “While we didn’t quite make it to the goal, we still had a successful event in bringing the community together, supporting survivors and spreading the word out there that hope still lives.”
The fundraising season officially ended on Aug. 12, giving teams time to continue turning in donations after the Relay itself was held in June. Much of the money is collected in the weeks leading up to the event at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, though some teams wait until the day of Relay to turn in their contributions.
That final stretch made a significant difference this year. At the time of the June event, participants had already raised more than $46,000. Since then, Luippold said, donations pushed the total up by roughly $50,000.
Beyond honoring cancer survivors, Relay For Life supports programs through the American Cancer Society that provide practical help for patients and families. Fundraising dollars contribute to services such as Hope Lodge, which provides lodging for patients traveling for treatment, and Road To Recovery, which connects volunteers with patients who need transportation to medical appointments.
This year’s Relay For Life of Franklin County included about 150 registered participants, in addition to community members who came to walk around the fairgrounds, visit with teams and view the luminaria without formally registering. About 50 cancer survivors were also registered for the survivor luncheon, which benefited from donations from Big Y and Dunkin’ Donuts.
For Luippold, however, some of the most meaningful moments of the day were less about any single activity and more about seeing familiar faces return.
“It’s kind of like a family reunion,” he shared.
Some participants are people that organizers see throughout the events leading up to Relay For Life, while others only return annually for the main event. The opportunity to reconnect, Luippold said, remains one of the aspects that makes the day special.
There were plenty of lighter moments, too. One team organized a giant inflatable costume race as a fundraiser, giving participants and spectators an opportunity to have some fun while continuing to raise money for the cause.
The event also offered signs of a potential next generation of participants. Luippold said some families that have been involved for generations are starting to see younger members become more active. Organizers hope to build on that momentum by conducting additional outreach in the coming year, and working to attract new teams and younger participants.
This year’s Relay For Life also marked an anniversary year. Although the Franklin County event has existed for 31 years, there was not a traditional Relay held in 2020 due to the pandemic. Instead, organizers held a much smaller event, including a livestreamed luminaria ceremony, thus making 2026 the 30th traditional Relay.
That longevity reflects the strong connection many Franklin County residents have to the cause. Luippold said cancer has affected virtually everyone in some way, while the county’s community-oriented nature has helped keep Relay going.
Looking ahead, organizers are hoping to make sure even more residents know that the event remains active.
“One of the things that we’ve kind of enlightened on in the last year … is that a lot of folks didn’t know that we were still happening,” Luippold said.
When Relay For Life first came to Greenfield, it spanned overnight across two days and attracted larger crowds. It is now a one-day event, but organizers want residents to know that it is still active and “still going strong,” Luippold said.
A larger kickoff event for team captains and prospective participants is expected in early 2027, where organizers will announce the new theme and share information about the upcoming season. Next year’s Relay For Life has been set for Saturday, June 12, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.
For Luippold, the hope is that Relay For Life will eventually become unnecessary because a cure for cancer will be found. Until then, he said, the commitment of the local community gives organizers confidence that the event will continue.
