DEARBORN, MI – Things may get a little messy at the Relay For Life of Dearborn again this year. Team Dearborn is back with their pie event, this time “Six Pies and a Poncho – The Magnificent Seven”, and has enlisted the participation of seven key figures in the City to make it happen.
“The pie event turned out better than we could have imagined last year, though not exactly as planned. Our contestants had a lot of fun and went beyond what we expected – there was pie everywhere. It was a great time,” said Team Dearborn co-captain Amanda Stegner. Team Dearborn has set a very high goal this year, to raise $27,000 for the American Cancer Society in honor of a teammate who would have been a 27 year survivor this year. They are hoping the pie fundraiser will help them achieve that goal, as well as some publicity and turnout for the Relay on April 27.
At the 2012 event, despite wearing a Team O’Reilly T-shirt in an apparent attempt to get a measure of pie-slinging mercy from the Mayor , Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak was hit with a pie by Mayor John B. O’Reilly, who himself had already been creamed in the fund-raising event at Relay for Life. (2012 photo)
The 2013 RFL Dearborn event theme is Relay Through the Ages and Team Dearborn has chosen the Old West for their campsite theme. “In line with our western theme, and because the contest went a little outlaw last year, we were inspired to add two more contestants and call them The Magnificent Seven”, said Stegner. The seven pie contestants are: Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly, Dearborn Superintendent of Schools Brian Whiston, Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak, Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive Chairman Steve Worden, Edsel Ford Principal Scott Casebolt, Fordson Principal Youssef Mossallam and Dearborn High Principal Chuck Baughman.
People vote with donations to the American Cancer Society and the contestant with the most donations in his name “wins” the poncho. The plan is for person wearing the poncho to be the focus of some good-natured pie throwing by the other six contestants, each of who “wins” one pie. Last year Superintendent Whiston won the poncho, which turned out to be a valuable prize as the contestants all got in on the messy pie fun.
So, by original design of the contest, supporters should want to protect their favorite community figure from being in the “poncho” spot by promoting votes for the six other contestants – a reverse election. Based on last year’s results though, you may want to guarantee your favorite wins the protection of the poncho. Either way, everybody wins as each vote results in additional funds raised to support the American Cancer Society.
The public can vote online by credit card by visiting the Team Dearborn Relay For Life web page and clicking on the name of the contestant they would like to win the poncho. The direct links to donate on each participant’s page are:
- Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly
- Dearborn Superintendent of Schools Brian Whiston
- Wayne County Commissioner Gary Woronchak
- Dearborn Firefighters Burn Drive Chairman Steve Worden
- Edsel Ford Principal Scott Casebolt
- Fordson Principal Youssef Mossallam
- Dearborn High Principal Chuck Baughman
You can also vote with cash, checks or by credit card at the Team Dearborn campsite at the Relay For Life of Dearborn on Saturday, April 27. Voting will close at 3:30 PM on April 27 and the “pieing” will take place at 4:00 PM at the Team Dearborn campsite at Relay.
“Team Dearborn is very grateful to our City leaders for participating again. Everybody really enjoyed the show last year and we’re hoping to reach an even bigger audience this year with our new contestants and an earlier start. The pie contest is a fun way to raise awareness and much needed funds for the American Cancer Society through the Relay For Life of Dearborn,” added Stegner. Team Dearborn hopes to work with the Relay Teams from the three high schools to
publicize the fundraiser and gather votes/donations.
The 2013 Relay For Life of Dearborn will be held April 27 – April 28, from 10 AM – 10 AM at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue and is open to the public. Relay For Life offers everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.
“We invite the public to come out and spend time with our teams that will camp out and walk the track for 24 hours” says Event Chair Alysia Schuler. Moments you won’t want to miss include our Opening Ceremony celebrating survivors and caregivers at 10 AM and our candlelight Luminaria Ceremony, remembering those lost at 10 PM, both on April 27th.
For more information about Six Pies and A Poncho – The Magnificent Seven, contact Team Dearborn Captain Amanda Stegner at 313.802.7700 or at [email protected]. For more information on how you can get involved in the Relay for Life of Dearborn, contact Event Chair, Alysia Schuler at 313.408.1264 , [email protected] OR Liz Sawielski at 248.663.3406 or [email protected]. You can also find information or start or join a team, by visiting www.relayforlife.org/dearbornmi.
Related Stories
- Pie Fight Erupts Between Mayor and Officials at Cancer Event – May 2012 – Dearborn Free Press
- Photos of 2012 Pie Fight Between Dearborn Mayor and Public Officials – Dearborn Free Press