Highlands Relay for Life includes car cruise, food trucks

JoAnn Monteleone hopes she has helped at least one person.

Chances are, in 17 years leading the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Harrison, she’s helped and touched many more.

She has survived cancer, while it has taken loved ones all around her, including her husband, Tony, in 2016. The relay they co-founded hit the $1 million mark a couple of years ago.

“I had to do something because God has been so good to me,” she said. “I felt I had to give back. You have to give back.”

“Summerfest” is the theme for this year’s Highlands Area Relay for Life. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday on the soccer field next to Highlands Middle School on California Avenue in Harrison.

Between 16 and 18 teams are expected to participate, including a couple from the former Alle-Kiski Valley Relay for Life in New Kensington, which disbanded and merged with Highlands last year.

Monteleone urged residents to come out for the free community event, which features food, games and entertainment.

“Bring your kids and come out for some fun,” she said. “See what’s going on, see what we’re doing, come and check out the entertainment and the food trucks.”

A baker’s dozen of food trucks will be there from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Opening ceremonies are at 10 a.m.

Entertainment will include Aubrey Burchell, a former American Idol contestant from North Huntingdon who performed at last year’s relay.

In keeping with the “Summerfest” theme, a car cruise, “Cruising for a Cure,” will run from noon to 5 p.m. along California Avenue, which will be blocked off. Monteleone said 16 cars are signed up.

“If it’s a beautiful day, you never know how many are coming,” she said.

There will be a dove release at 5:30 p.m. and a reception for cancer survivors at 6 p.m. The luminaria ceremony starts at 8 p.m., featuring bagpiper Jonathan Love.

The day is capped off with fireworks at 9:45 p.m., and the 50/50 raffle drawing.

“Hopefully, it’s going to be a beautiful day and the rain is going to be over,” Monteleone said. “We just want the community to come out. We really do. We love to have the community come out.”