Malverne Students Rally For Cancer Walk

Only 12 days remain until Malverne hosts its first Relay for Life event to raise funds to fight cancer and honor those who have been touched by this disease.

So far, 19 teams and 73 participants have signed up, and more than $12,500 has been raised for the American Cancer Society as of early Monday morning.

Still, there is plenty of time for more residents, their friends and familiy to get involved in supporting the cause. To help raise awareness for the event among the community's youngest residents, recently held a pep rally for its students.

The main goal was to get the kids excited and prepared for the upcoming Relay for Life. For one day, all Kindergarteners, first and second graders went to the Malverne High School gymnasium and participated in several cheers and chants aimed at bringing out their school spirit and support for the cause.

During the pep rally, Marguerite Robles, a first grade teacher and one of the organizers for Downing’s Relay for Life fundraisers, announced that the school had raised more than $4,000 for the cause to date. (Right now the team from Downing tops the fundraising leaderboard on the event's Web site.)

Following the pep rally, students went to the high school track and participated in several activities, including walking the track and relay events.

The actual Relay for Life begins at on Friday, May 20, at 7 p.m. For more information about the event, how to sign up or make a donation click here.