Annual mother-son dance to benefit Norwin Relay for Life

Know what your favorite sport is?

You’ll need it for the All-Star Mother-Son Dance next month.

Started last year by Relay for Life of Norwin youth ambassadors Tyler Funk and Andrew Sullivan, all proceeds go toward the June 1 event benefiting the American Cancer Society.

“I’ve been involved (with Relay for Life) ever since I was a little kid,” said Funk, 17. “I had a lot of family connections … losing my grandmother at a very young age, so it’s been around me my whole life.”

Seeing only a father and daughter dance in the area, the Norwin senior wanted an event that gave sons and mothers the chance to spend time together. Aimed at boys in first through sixth grades, last year’s event was a superhero theme.

“It grabbed even those sixth-graders who were saying they wouldn’t go,” said Tyler’s dad, Grant. “Imagine 100 elementary age boys enjoying themselves at a school dance. Now imagine that their eager dance partners are their own mothers. That’s what happened one memorable night last May.”

At the event, Spider-Man made an appearance along with a face painter and a speech from Tyler Funk and Sullivan on the importance of mothers.

This year, the event will be held May 11 at Banquets Unlimited in Irwin.

A buffet dinner, dancing, prizes and Chinese auction are planned. Attendees are encourage to show up as their favorite sport or sports player.

Relay for Life will be held at the Norwin Knights Stadium, 251 McMahon Drive, Irwin, and will have opening and closing ceremonies, a survivor and caregiver walk and a luminaria ceremony.