Relay for Life held at Belchertown High School

BELCHERTOWN, Mass. (WWLP) - Belchertown educator Marilyn Higgins died of leukemia last year. She had been a fervent supporter for relay for life, the Western Massachusetts event that raises money for Cancer research.

Marilyn Higgins was a longtime Belchertown physical education teacher. She had been part of a team of educators that took part in the annual Quabbin relay for life at Belchertown high school.

“Our team developed probably eight years ago. It started off as a teacher’s team and that's when Marilyn got diagnosed with cancer three years ago it turned into team Marilyn,” Karen Misiasvek said.

Marilyn's fellow teacher Sally Shattuck, a member of Belchertown's United Church of Christ, has arranged a fundraising Bingo night Wednesday. Half the receipts going to the Church, the other half towards this year's relay for life funding for cancer research.

Sally spoke of her long friendship with Marilyn Higgins.

“Marilyn's children went to school with my children; we've worked together for 25 years in this school system, so it's been a long year without her,” Shattuck told 22News.

Much of the money raised during Wednesday nights Bingo at Belchertown will be added to the many relay for life fundraisers during the year.

Which have added up to millions of dollars during decades of relay for life events involving thousands of cancer survivors and their supporters here in Western Massachusetts.