Relay for Life continues at St. Thomas Academy Students at St. Thomas Christian Academy waged a fight against cancer Oct. 27 by participating in a mini Relay for Life in the school's parking lot. Some 125 students, teachers and parents walked the five-mile course, raising over $1,500. Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli and Leon Mowadia, chairman of Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society, cheered the children and handed out water to the thirsty walkers. "These kids are keeping cancer awareness in the forefront of the community," said Mowadia. "This is a battle to fight every day, and that's exactly what our friends at St. Thomas are doing." St. Thomas was the first grammar school in southern New Jersey to participate in a Relay for Life in 2000, when the school was awarded the Youth Award for volunteerism by the American Cancer Society. In the past several years, the students have raised over $10,000 for the cause, bringing their charitable contributions to various organizations in the community to over $70,000. "St. Thomas students have never, ever turned down a person or charitable group that asks to help," said Mayor Scarpelli. "They are a very special group of kids." The school will participate in the township's Relay for Life in the spring.