The St. John community came out in force Saturday for the annual “Light Up the Night” cancer walk. Along with the teams walking along the track around the National Park Ballfield in Cruz Bay came volunteers, business sponsors, youth groups and visitors.
In a place where roughly two-thirds of all commerce is carried out by small businesses, event organizers said their mission is clear: to make a difference in the lives of island dwellers battling cancer.
“We are here today to raise funds to help those people on St. John who are in need of help; some simply don’t have insurance unless they have a government job or are working for a hotel,” said St. John Cancer Fund co-founder Cynthia Smith. “A lot of small business people, they don’t have health insurance or it’s very hard to get health insurance. So, we provide help in a monetary way — up to $4,000 a year to help a cancer patient, but $4,000 a year is nothing compared to when it’s $25,000 for one treatment.“
In an average year, the fund provides assistance for up to 40 people, Smith said, “but this year is going to be a big one. We really are going to need to raise as much money this year to get us through to next year.”
Teams of walkers take turns walking around the track continuously from the 4 p.m. start until midnight; at least one team member is in motion at all times. Other, smaller activities gave spectators a chance to contribute as well. For a couple of bucks at a time, willing pitchers got three chances to hit a target and release the catch on a seat poised above the dunk tank.
Luminaries were set in place for the nine o’clock hour when cancer survivors took to the track for a candlelit march. Supporters give contributions to purchase luminaries and decorate them with words and drawings.
Restaurants served lobster rolls and other specialties. Live entertainment included the St. John Singers, Dynamic Dancers, the Jam Band, Broheem with Love, and the Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies. Deejay Adonis Morton cranked up the dance tunes for walkers and supporters all night.
The St. John Cancer Fund works with the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands to manage its donations. Those who would like to donate are being directed to the foundation’s website https://cfvi.net/. “They manage our money and give us a monthly report on the funds that come in,” Smith said.
“As of January of last year, we had taken in a million dollars. We’re going over that now,” she said.
The St. John Cancer Fund got its start in 2012. The first “Light Up the Night” event took place in 2014.
