Photo By BARB BARRETT/The Luminary Reuben's Rubies, a family member team, came to Relay for Life to promote awareness to find a cure for cancer. Each colored bow on their tree stands for a family member who had cancer related to that color. They also coordinated tee shirts for the 2014 event.

HUGHESVILLE – Stugart Reuben, a business owner in Cogan Station, decided that he and his family wanted to make a presence and promote more awareness for the fight against cancer. After losing several family members, and some as survivors also, the family as a team, entered a display titled “Reuben’s Rubies” into this year’s Relay for Life event. The ‘Rubies’ he said, are his sisters, wife, brother-in-law, nieces and friends who have over the past ten years, were diagnosed with cancer.

Patty Peterman from Clarkstown, one of the family team members, said that this year she lost her husband and they honored the memory of Steve Peterman. In the program guide, he stated that his wish was to find a cure soon so his granddaughter’s generation will not have to say they lost a loved one to this dreaded disease.

At noon the family did a special lap in Peterman’s honor and at 12:30 p.m. they released 24 monarch butterflies out in the middle of the football field.

Reuben said that it is their intention to deliver the message to continue the fight and keep on relaying at each Relay for Life event.