The final event of the school year for the Tampa Lodge-sponsored Club Chivalry was the Relay for Life of Tampa, held April 28 at Robinson High Stadium. This is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Club Chivalry had a team of 14 students and five Elks and Tampa Lodge is an event sponsor. This was their eighth year participating and one of the best. Lodge member Kristina Chowning was the event activity lead and member Becky Sullins was the survivor lead. Members Douglas Grant, Patty Volpe and Christien Elkins assisted with the setup and cleanup. The event began with a celebratory dinner open to all registered cancer survivors and caregivers. Three lodge members attended. Robert Bordonaro is a cancer survivor, and Susie Harlow and Bob Orcutt were caregivers. Bordonaro was treated to a lap around the track in a convertible, as the opening lap is always the survivor lap. After that, more than 1,000 attendees visited team booths, which all have something to sell, such as games, food and merchandise. The Club Chivalry activity was their famous Booty or Booby game. Patty Volpe took the front as the carnival hawker and Susie Harlow managed the treasure chest. There were 85 customers and all received a prize. By 9 p.m. the luminaries had been distributed and the lights went out. The team sold 18 luminaires and raised $2,008 for the American Cancer Society. The entire event raised $130,901 for the American Cancer Society. Rita Smith, PER, says, “It is truly a moving sight to walk a lap and see how many lives have been adversely touched by cancer.”
Pictured are Kristina Chowning, parade marshal and event lead, with survivor Robert Bordonaro.
Working at the booth are Patty Volpe and Susie Harlow.
The Robinson drum corp leads the survivor lap.