The track at Lincoln Elementary School in Redondo Beach was transformed this weekend to make way for the 13th annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life Beach Cities event.
Close to 250 participants, all affected by cancer in one way or another, took part in this year’s 24-hour-long relay, a walk aimed at raising funds for cancer research, celebrating the lives of cancer survivors, and remembering those who lost their battle with the disease.
The event started at 9 a.m. on Saturday and ran through 9 a.m. on Sunday.
“The idea behind the 24 hours is that cancer never sleeps so neither do we,” Sara Clickenger, event manager, said. “There will be people walking at all hours – even if it’s freezing cold.”
Most of the participants at the event belonged to one of 21 teams, such as Wings with Dreams, Kick Cancer in the Boot, and Team Donovan, a team dedicated to Kevin Donovan, who died from stomach cancer in 2003. At least one member of each team was walking the track throughout the relay.
Several teams also set up booths facing the track. At the booths, attendees could stop and learn about different forms of cancer and take part in on-site fundraising activities such as raffles and silent auctions.
Clickenger said over $114,000 was raised at this year’s relay – a little short of the $120,000 goal – however, donations will still be accepted until Aug. 31. All money raised at the event will be used to fund research, educate, and provide an array of services.
“[The American Cancer Society] has a lot of programs and services like ‘Look Good Feel Good,’ which helps with the appearance-related side effects of [cancer] treatments by giving women wigs and things like that,” Clickenger said. “We also have other programs like ‘Road to Recovery,’ where we partner cancer patients up with volunteers who give them rides to their treatments.”
The first lap of Relay for Life was devoted to the cancer survivors present at the event. As the survivors circled around the track, others lined the sides of the track and cheered them on. At the end of the lap, each survivor received a purple medal, signifying their victory over cancer.
Adrienne Slaughter, a two-time cancer survivor, was one of many who walked during the first lap.
Slaughter was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1981 at the age of 14, and lost a leg to the disease. She was then diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.
Slaughter, who started a career as a motivational speaker at the age of 16 and has been the keynote speaker at past Relay for Life events, said the most important thing in overcoming cancer is a positive attitude.
“There’s a lot of negative in cancer, but you can definitely get a smile on your face, and find some positives. Positives allow you to have more strength to endure the cancer experience,” Slaughter said. “Cancer’s not an experience, it’s not really enjoyable, but it definitely helps when you are going through it if there are others that can understand your experience. Relay for Life offers that.”
Sponsors were also present in support of the relay, particularly at the survivors’ tent, where Sheraton Gateway LAX donated breakfast to cancer survivors, and Marinello’s Beauty School offered free cosmetic service for nails, makeup and hair.
Stella Barey, a resident of Torrance and a first time attendee of Relay for Life, was among those who took advantage of the cosmetic services.
Barey said she was very impressed by the event and the variety of organizations and community members that came together to make the event happen.
“I think [the event] is wonderful…because it’s telling the community about [cancer] and giving them an opportunity to meet people who are survivors,” Barey said. “Everybody, eventually, will know someone who has cancer…I’ve had a lot of family members with cancer. Not me, but my family. So it gives me hope that they’re going to find a cure.”
The relay also hosted various types of entertainment, such as live music and a drum circle open to all people.
Toward the end of the day on Saturday, the event’s focus shifted from celebration and the fight against cancer to the commemoration of those who had died.
Attendees purchased bags and decorated them in honor of a loved one they had lost. The bags were then filled with sand and a burning candle to line the track for the luminaria ceremony, which took place at 9 p.m.
While the attendees took part in a lap of silence, bagpipes played Amazing Grace in the background.
Clickenger said while Relay for Life is an important event, she hopes that in the future such events will no longer be necessary.
“We don’t want to be around a 100 years from now; we’re celebrating the 100th birthday [of the American Cancer Society] this year but we don’t want to be here in 100 years,” Clickenger said. “We want cancer to be gone. We want to have a cure and we want to be done.”
To find out more about Relay for Life Beach Cities, visit www.relayforlife.org/beachcitiesca.
