When Sue Pikarsky, founder of the Relay for Life team, Mary's Team, approached Cooperstown Sports Booster president Bob Snyder with fund-raising ideas last fall, it didn't take long for he and the rest of the members of the club to come up with the idea of donating the proceeds from last year's Holiday Basketball Tournament to Pikarsky's team.

Mary's Team is named after Mary Murdock, a longtime supporter of Cooperstown basketball who lost a battle with liver cancer last April.

"Mary was always around and such a part of the team that it just made perfect sense," said Pikarsky Tuesday after being presented with a check for $2,009 by the Booster Club. "She was always there."

Murdock was born and raised in Cooperstown, and had three boys graduate from CCS. She was a fixture at Cooperstown sporting events for over 30 years.

Last year's basketball tournament was dedicated to Murdock's memory as well. Her son, Todd, currently coaches the boys junior varsity team.

For the second straight year, "Mary's Team" will be participating in the local Relay for Life this Friday beginning at 6 p.m. at the Westville Airport. Last year, 65 members, including 28 members of the Cooperstown boys junior varsity and varsity programs, helped raise $3,896 for cancer research.

According to the Relay for Life website, Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people take turns walking or running laps.

Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day, cancer will be eliminated.