Community Corner

Mohegan Lake Couple Raises $200,000 for Relay for Life Over 20 Years

The memory of their now late niece Sarah and finding the cure for cancer are the driving forces for Jim and Denise Poulin of Mohegan Lake. They have been raising money for Relay for Life for the last 20 years and just celebrated raising a total of $200,000 for the American Cancer Society. 

"This experience has been life changing to both of us," Jim Poulin told Patch. "It has become part of who we are."

The couple first began relaying 20 years ago at the Relay For Life of Dobbs Ferry at Mercy College where they both work. Poulin said they had a friend who passed away from cancer at the age of 26.

"We wanted to do something in her honor," he said. 

In 2007, the couple joined the Yorktown Relay for Life and have never missed a year since. They put together a team each year and motivate their team members by keeping it fun and changing their themes and decorations. The Poulins are team captains of the "Celebrating 20 Years of Fighting for a Cure" Relay for Life team. 

"This is an event that touches us more and more each year," Poulin said about Yorktown's Relay for Life. "We feel like we are making a difference in our part the world. We often visit multiple Relays every year and witness firsthand what Relay is all about through the Luminary Ceremony and meeting so many people."

Today, the fight against cancer has gotten personal for them. 

Their niece Sarah was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when she was 3 months old. She had a bone marrow transplant and did well for a little while, Poulin said, but she died at the age of 2.  

"We are grateful for the time we had with her," he said. 

In addition, his wife's sister Debra is a breast cancer survivor. 

"She is a mother of 3, adopted mom of 2 and foster mother of 3 and continues to work full time without complaining while completing treatment," Poulin said.

The duo have been raising the money by holding bake sales, selling handmade Hope bracelets at flea markets, selling Luminaries, and asking for donations outside local stores. The night of Relay For Life, they will be selling official Relay merchandise, offering food throughout the night and doing glitter tattoos. 

For their $200,000 fundraising achievement, the Poulins credit all of the people who have supported them with a donation, purchased a bracelet or bought a luminary.  

"We could not have accomplished this goal without all of our team members throughout the 20 years who reached out to their friends and family and co-workers to get donations to add to our totals," Poulin said. 

It was his co-worker Mary Oleksowicz who helped them reach that goal. Within 10 minutes of him mentioning to her that they were $43 dollars away from reaching the milestone, he saw a donation of $64 on his team page.  

"I was intrigued by the odd donation number," he said. "Then I read her message, $43 to hit our goal, $20 for 20 years and $1 for good luck."

What makes it worthwhile for him is knowing that the services needed here in the  community are being met each and every day.

"Anytime we can make a day easier for those battling cancer is a good day," he said. "Denise and I are committed to continue to fight this fight to remember those who have passed and to honor those still in the fight."

The donate to their team visit main.acsevents.org/goto/jimpoulinor main.acsevents.org/goto/dgpoulin.

Yorktown's Relay for Life is set for Friday, June 14 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Jack DeVito Track and Field.

This year, the national theme is 'Dream Big, Hope Big, Relay Big,' while the Yorktown theme is 'the Wizard of Oz' because of several rainbows that emerged during last year's Relay for Life, according to Monica Garrigan, a Yorktown resident and senior director of special events for the American Cancer Society. 

Committee members for Relay For Life of Yorktown hope to raise $300,000 this year for the research, programs and services of the American Cancer Society. 


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