STX Relay for Life takes the lead in an educational complex

Volunteers and cancer survivors visited the St. Croix Education Complex this weekend to celebrate hope by participating in the 17th edition of Relay For Life, a major fundraiser for US Virgin Islands Cancer Society.

"Celebrating the hope V.I. Style" was the theme of the event, which began at 16 hours. Saturday and concluded at 10 am on Sunday.

Dona Browne Jones has been volunteering with the American Cancer Society for 12 years and is in her third year at the helm of Relay for Life.

"Relay For Life is our primary fundraiser," said Browne Jones. "We hold this event every year in May, but because of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, we decided not to do it this year. … There was so much screaming from the community that asked us to continue, we listened and this relay was planned in a month and 12 days. "

The offices of the American Cancer Society are closed due to damage caused by a hurricane.

"We had to make a decision," said Browne Jones. "We could start all over again in a new space with new staff to help our patients, or we could use that money while helping our patients and doing Relay For Life," she said.

"We have 16 teams this year. Each team pays a registration fee and has to collect a monetary minimum as a commitment fee to our patients, "she said.

"The community has been great with its generosity. We could not have done it without them, "she said.