At 9 p.m. Saturday, the streetlights will go out at the National Park Ballfield in Cruz Bay, and hundreds of glowing paper lanterns will be lit to honor those who have fought cancer.
The moment is a solemn one amid an evening that is otherwise filled with hope and determination as the community comes out for “Light Up the Night,” the major fundraiser for the St. John Cancer Fund.
The event begins at 4 p.m. with an opening prayer followed by performances by the Love City Pan Dragons, the Dynamic Dancers, the St. John Recovery Choir, and a cheerleading squad.
The musical entertainment continues throughout the evening until midnight, with performers from St. Thomas and St. John, including RC and his band, the new Jam Band, Reggae Dynasty, Pamela and Broheem, Chris B. Love, Vizions Sounds and others.
There will be games and activities for youngsters in the Kid Zone, including a dunk tank, and food galore, including lobster rolls made from fresh lobster flown down that day from Maine.
“And of course there will be tons of information from the Wellness Center about cancer prevention, screening and treatment options,” said Adonis Morton, one of the fund’s founding members.
Over the past 14 years, the St. John Cancer Fund has raised more than a million dollars, and it has given away as much to St. John residents to meet their varying needs.
“Once you have a diagnosis and you apply for assistance, the board can approve up to $4,000 per request for anything related to patient care, travel, medicine, rent – whatever costs you may face,” said Morton. “So many of us on St. John are self-employed, and insurance costs are exorbitant. That’s part of our driving force.”
Morton said the STJ Cancer Fund got its inspiration from the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, which was held on St. John for many years. Former organizers of that event decided to start their own organization when they realized the amount of money that directly went to locals who needed to travel (at least to St. Thomas, if not to the States) to get appropriate cancer care.
Community members are forming teams to raise funds, and there’s a “cheerful competition” to see which team can raise the most, Morton said. Some teams are getting a head start by staging fundraisers early, like the Beach Bar team, which is holding a special event Thursday.
Each team has its own QR code, and it’s possible to scan the code and donate to a particular team or to the STJ Cancer Fund in general. T-shirts will also be on sale at the Pelican Post starting Friday.
Team members walk the track around the National Park Ballfield to show their determination to fight cancer.
The St. John Cancer Fund’s finances are managed by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, so anyone wishing to donate by check should make it out to CFVI and write “St. John Cancer Fund” in the memo. Checks can be dropped off at the event or at the Pelican Post in Cruz Bay.
For updated information and to check out the friendly competition among fundraising teams, visit St. John Cancer Fund on Facebook and Instagram.
