Loudoun Cancer Survivor and Justice of the Peace Donates Fees to Relay For Life

After Ronald Petrella was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, he decided to create a “bucket list” of things he wanted to do in his life time. They included going to Fenway Park and Lambeau Field, buying a convertible, and becoming an ordained justice of the peace. He’s not only accomplished all of those things – he’s turned his status as a justice of the peace (or civil celebrant as justices are known in Virginia) – into a way to raise funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

During his four years of officiating at weddings, he’s raised thousands of dollars for the Western Loudoun Relay event in Loudoun County, Virginia. This year alone, he’s raised $5,436, and he has seven weddings scheduled before the end of the Society’s fiscal year on August 31.

“I definitely see this as a way to give back to the American Cancer Society,” says Petrella, the athletic director at Heritage High School in Leesburg and Relay Chair for the Loudoun Relay. “When I officiate at a wedding and tell people that the fee will go to the American Cancer Society, they’re almost always very happy to make a donation. They think it’s just a great thing to do.”

Karen Maricheau, Loudoun Community Manager for the Society, adds, “Ron is so inspirational with his commitment to Relay For Life and his enthusiasm for weddings and raising money for Relay. He’s tireless in his volunteer work on our behalf, and as a cancer survivor, he uses his cancer experience to motivate others. He’s such a pleasure to work with every year.”

The Loudoun Relay was held on June 12 and attracted more than 1,000 participants and to date, has raised $200,000. Members of Petrella’s team, named M*A*S*H (Make A Survivor Happy) after mobile military medical units popularized on the TV show, M*A*S*H*, dress up as doctors and nurses. This year, his team raised nearly $8,000 for Relay.

Petrella, 47, a testicular cancer survivor, says it was the joy, “unconditional love” and hope for a bright future at weddings that prompted him to become a civil celebrant.

“I loved weddings and thought they were awesome and so hopeful, just pure happiness,” he explains. “I just wanted to be a part of that. Weddings are about celebrating relationships, and after having cancer, it really hits home how important relationships and celebrating are.”

He takes a personal approach to officiating, meeting with couples to get to know them before the marriage and telling them about his fee being donated to the American Cancer Society.

“I would say 90 percent of the couples tell me they’ve had a cancer experience, whether they’re survivors or someone in their families has had cancer. It’s something that just resonates with everyone,” he says. “I never give them a specific amount for the fee. And they usually donate between $50 and $200. I give them the online site to donate to make it easy.”

Petrella says over the years, he’s officiated at many weddings of his former students and fellow teachers’ children. The word has spread about what he’s doing, and he now gets many calls from people who ask him to perform their weddings.

“I get so much out of it. I go to wonderful celebrations, make new friends and raise money for a great cause,” he says.

He adds, “The first wedding I officiated, my wife Diane and daughter, Karly, went with me. Afterward, my daughter said to me, ‘Dad, you really are making a difference.’ It meant so much to me. I want to keep raising money and awareness for Relay so I can help the American Cancer Society save more lives.”

Maricheau says donations for Relay will be accepted through August 31. To make a donation, visit www.westernloudounrelay.org. Or checks can be mailed to the Society’s Vienna office at American Cancer Society, Attention Western Loudoun Relay, 124 Park Street SE, Vienna, VA 22180.