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| Aroostook Republican photo/Theron Larkins Hosts Cuppy Johndro, left, and WAGM reporter Katie Zarrilli were in attendance to emcee the 2014 TV Family Game Night on May 3 at the Caribou Performing Arts Center, where they led contestants in numerous games from popular television shows like “The Price is Right” and “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?” The two volunteered to host the event which, along with related fundraisers, raised approximately $1,300 for Relay for Life. |
By Theron Larkins
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Saturday, May 3 was TV Family Game Night 2014 in Caribou, as the Caribou Performing Arts Center was packed with people looking to relive the glory days of day-time television and the favorite game shows we can all remember watching.
The CPAC auditorium was transformed into what appeared to be a television set for “The Price is Right” on Saturday, as local attendees were told to “come on down” to the stage, where they would join Cuppy Johndro and WAGM reporter Katie Zarrilli, as they co-hosted the event, on behalf of several different Relay for Life teams and the American Cancer Society.
Event organizer Johndro pointed out how important events like TV Family Game Night can be and just how much work and effort went in to the preparation process.
“Some of the people who were instrumental were myself, Karin Howe, and a number of teams who helped out. Also, Ann Whitehead did the Family Feud computer work, and many of the teams,” said Johndro. “I had been planning this for two years or more and our team was going to put it on, but it was too big of an undertaking for just one team of only eight people. I referenced all the game shows on TV and watched them over and over to get everything correct. It was important for us to get the rules down, and make it realistic, while also still fun and interactive.”
The Game Night event featured names like “The Price is Right,” “Family Feud,” “Minute to Win It,” “Are you Smarter Than a 5th grader?” and “Lets Make a Deal,” as well as many more. The TV Family Game Night was not only a night of games, but the fundraising continued at the end of the evening with a 50/50 drawing and a number of different raffles that took place to earn money for the American Cancer Society.
Relay for Life is a community-based fund-raising event of the American Cancer Society, which holds more than 5,000 Relay for Life events across 20 countries. Events are held in local communities, campus universities and in virtual worlds. As the American Cancer Society’s most successful fundraiser and the organization’s signature event, the mission of Relay for Life is to raise funds to improve cancer survival, decrease the incidence of cancer, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers.
In May 1985, Dr. Gordon Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash., decided he wanted to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Because he enjoyed marathons, Klaat walked around the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound for 24 hours. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He walked approximately 83 miles and raised $27,000 for cancer research. Nearly 300 of Klatt’s friends, family and patients watched as he ran and walked the course.
After this event, Klatt thought about how other people could participate in a similar event in their own community. He recruited a small team of people to host the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer. Since Dr. Klatt’s 24-hour run it is estimated that Relay for Life events have raised nearly $5 billion to date.
The American Cancer Society states that money raised through Relay for Life events goes to the following efforts: Research grants and research programs, prevention programs, community and patient support programs, detection and treatment programs, fundraising and construction of Hope Lodges.
While all these events and ceremonies can be beneficial to the fight against cancer, the event in Caribou on Saturday was one that earned points for creativity. Commonly, the Relay for Life events are organized under a volunteer Relay Committee, and implemented by volunteers. They are often organized as a multi-day public gathering, spanning all day and night in a large outdoor space, and many people bring tents and camp out around the walking tracks. Currently, almost 4 million people take part in Relay events in over 5,000 communities in the United States. The CPAC may not be able to accommodate an event on such a massive scale, however, they were still able to raise approximately $1,300 for the fight against cancer.
“I feel it’s important to keep Relay going, as it helps to fund research and development of new drugs and therapies. Without them many would die from not having new and improved ways to fight cancer,” said Johndro. “Cancer is a very bad word to me, as it affects so many of my family and friends, and every week I hear of one more person who has it, and that is one too many. I know that many feel the money needs to stay in the county but we do not have the research labs here. We need to find the cure. Having a way to combat this disease is key.”
Relay for Life teams involved with the May 3 event will hope to raise even more money before attending the Relay for Life Aroostook Event. This year the event will be held at the Caribou High School on Friday, June 6, at 6 p.m. According to the Relay for Life website 36 teams and 433 participants have already raised over $34,000 for the event. Anyone interested in making a donation or simply learning more about Relay for Life events can visit their website at relayforlife.org.
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| Aroostook Republican photo/Theron Larkins Stacy Oliver of Presque Isle gives a fist-pump after having the closest estimated price on a preliminary item during the “Price is Right” segment of TV Family Game Night 2014, held May 3, at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. |
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| Aroostook Republican photo/Theron Larkins One of the “Family Feud” teams aniticpates a Number-One answer on the board, during Relay for Life’s TV Family Game Night 2014 on May 3, at the Caribou Performing Arts Center. Pictured here, from left, are Ariana Bard, Megan O’Clair, Grant Stubbs, Devin Novak and Tammy Bard. |
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| Aroostook Republican photo//Theron Larkins Shane Theriault of Caribou makes a spirited run down to the stage after emcees Cuppy Johndro and Katie Zarrilli invited him to “come on down” to be on “The Price is Right” during Relay for Life’s 2014 TV Family Game Night. |
