Plenty of fundraising done ahead of time, along with nearly $30,000 raised on site during the Relay For Life Greater Central Valley this past weekend, saw the total top out at over $160,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Hosted at Johansen High School, the Relay brought teams together from a number of Central Valley communities, including Oakdale, Escalon, Riverbank, Modesto, Turlock, Denair and more.
Opening ceremonies on Saturday morning, May 16 began at 9 a.m. and featured some guest speakers along with a group rendition of the National Anthem. A dove release was then followed by the inaugural Survivor Lap and one for caregivers, prior to the teams putting their representatives on the track as well.
The goal of Relay For Life is to have a member from each team on the track at all times during the 24-hour period, signifying to all participants that “cancer never sleeps.”
There were 51 teams registered this year, with Kaiser Permanente signing on the presenting sponsor.
Based on the “Fishing For A Cure” theme, a couple of new additions were well received; a fishing clinic taught youngsters the basics of tying a bait on a pole and then work on casting; those that registered in advance went home with a free fishing pole.
Officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were also on site with some informational exhibits.
Walking the track Saturday, stopping at the team booths to peruse the items they had to offer, were the Langum sisters of Escalon, Tina and Lizzi. They wore shirts supporting their mom, who has batted bladder cancer; the family was involved in the Escalon Relay For Life for several years before it was consolidated into the much larger Greater Central Valley event.
“Maybe we will have a team again,” Tina said.
The two said they originally started doing Relay at the Johansen site, as part of the Modesto Relay For Life, when their mom worked in Modesto and was on a team.
For Saturday, though, they were just enjoying the chance to circle the track and take in the atmosphere.
“We’re seeing what everybody has to offer,” Lizzi said, as teams put on a variety of fundraising efforts, from selling food and beverages to opportunity drawings or hosting fun games.
Also taking in the event and purchasing several luminaria bags to place around the track to help light the way for walkers overnight, were friends Caryn Ball and Nelia Teles of Escalon. The luminaria bags can be placed on the track in memory of someone lost to the disease or in support or honor of someone still fighting and those that have beaten the disease.
Throughout the day, musical groups took the stage, interspersed with such fun activities as the Ms. Relay contest featuring contestants in drag; the Road to Recovery race with teams putting together their best cardboard vehicles, and several theme laps including Inflatables, Superhero and Tutu laps, along with activities for youngsters at the free Kids Camp area and a classic car show just outside the football stadium.
The evening brought the luminaria ceremony, a midnight movie, scrabble and poker laps, and a newspaper fashion show just before the 6 a.m. karaoke on Sunday.
At the closing ceremonies on Sunday morning, it was announced that the Sutter Health – Gold Together aka Sutter Birthing Brigade team, with team captain Jennifer Ayala, was the Top Fundraising Team at $22,697 and also earned both the Relay For Life and the specialty Nelson Sayre Team Spirit awards.
The Sutter Health team captained by Veronica Edwards was the winner of the Best Campsite Award, voted on by a group of survivors attending the event, not registered on a team.
The local teams and participants have until May 31 to continue fundraising – the effort had raised just over $160,321 by Monday, May 18.
