Six-year-old Ralphie stepped onto the stage with his mother, who beamed when she introduced him as a cancer survivor. Ralphie then walked over to join the group of 49 other cancer survivors, one of whom was his father, gathered on the SDA track. The audience cheered and applauded wildly.
Cancer victims and survivors alike were honored at Relay for Life, an event which raised $40,000 for cancer research, treatment, and prevention on Saturday, Aug. 27. Community members as well as SDA students camped out at the SDA field for 24 hours, and ran as many laps as they could during that period to raise money and show their support for cancer patients.
“People with cancer fight it 24 hours. We never stop, just like them,” said Dolores Hamilton, the Relay for Life region lead volunteer. “We are making strides. We are winning the battle little by little.”
Over 350 community members, including about 35 SDA students, participated in Relay for Life, according to Hamilton.
“Most people are involved because they have been in some way touched by cancer and this gives them a way to fight back,” said Stacy Williams, Relay for Life manager for San Diego.
The Relay for Life started with an opening ceremony welcoming and honoring the cancer survivors. Then the cancer survivors walked a lap around the track, young alongside old, newly diagnosed alongside longtime cancer-free. “The survivor lap is to show them that there is hope,” said Hamilton.
At 9 p.m., the track was lit up with hundreds of candles in bags bearing the names of people who have battled cancer. The lighted bags, called luminaria, were meant to remember and honor cancer victims.
“To me the Luminaria Ceremony is the most memorable experience of Relay. Each bag represents different relationships lost to cancer – mothers, brothers, sisters, friends, daughters, sons, and so forth. It’s a time to remember those who were unable to win their battle against the disease, and a time for us to remember that we have not lost these lives, but instead their memories live on in our hearts, illustrated by the light in each luminaria,” said junior Lindsey Rowland, an SDA relay team member.
Money was raised through a variety of means, including car washes, bake sales, online donations, and by simply going up and asking people to be sponsors. “Anywhere they’re at, they’ll ask for donations,” said Williams. All money raised goes directly to the American Cancer Society.
“[Relay for Life] does change lives. The money is not just for research, but to also help people get treatment,” said junior Jessica Davis. Davis, who started participating in Relay for Life with her family when she was three years old, served as a committee chair and SDA team captain this year.
Relay for Life started in Seattle in 1985 when oncologist Gordy Klatt wanted to come up with a new way to help his cancer patients. An avid runner, Klatt decided to run around a track for 24 hours to raise money for cancer research. At first the crowd around him was all of onlookers, but soon they joined in as well, and created the relay tradition.
From there the event has grown to have a nationwide reach. Three other Relay for Life events were also held on Aug. 27, and 40 are held in San Diego County each year.
Relay for Life will be held again at SDA next August. To sign up and view the events schedule, go to relayforlife.org.