A little over three months away, the annual Relay For Life of Escalon is looking to grow, with more teams, participants and day-of attendees encouraged to get involved.
This past weekend, Team ‘A Walk to Remember’ hosted the latest in a series of pre-event fundraisers, with the team offering food, drinks, raffle drawings, music and fun in a Saturday evening gathering at the Escalon Sportsman’s Club.
There were a variety of prizes available in the opportunity drawings, from wine baskets to children’s Easter baskets, coffee lover’s baskets, handmade jewelry and more, while there was also a silent auction for a handmade quilt done by Rosalie Ennis. Pie orders were taken for Easter, attendees had an opportunity to purchase merchandise and a special Modesto Nuts table had tickets available for the April 30 game against the Stockton Ports.
Significant about that game will be a local cancer survivor, Margaret Catrina, throwing out the first pitch. She was at the ticket table, flanked on either side by her sisters, Rosalie Ennis and Helen Bordona. The Saturday, March 12 ‘Night Out for Relay’ event marked the one-year anniversary of Catrina learning she had bladder cancer.
A Walk to Remember team captain Desiree Beall said though they were hoping for a larger turnout on Saturday night, those that did come were very supportive and seemed to enjoy the evening.
“We did pretty good,” added team member Laura Catrina. “We raised over $1,000 after expenses.”
The team is one of several that are doing numerous pre-event fundraisers, leading up to the June 25 and 26 Relay For Life, which will be staged at Escalon High School.
Currently, said chairperson Arianna Kennedy, there are 10 teams and 72 participants signed up. There is still plenty of time to get involved and team captain meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at the Escalon Community Ambulance building.
Relay For Life is a 24-hour team event, with at least one member from each team on the track at all times, walking laps throughout the Relay to raise money for and awareness of the American Cancer Society programs and services. Teams have booths set up with food, merchandise, games and more, while there is also entertainment and a number of special events throughout the course of the 24 hours. Cancer survivors attend as honored guests.
This weekend, the Cancer Stampers team will host a yard sale, set for Saturday, March 19 starting at 8 a.m. at 2509 Yosemite. They also have their fifth annual Relay For Life Bunco Bash scheduled on Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. at the Escalon Azores Band Hall, 1436 First St., Escalon. Call Gerri at 209-324-6947 or Debbie at 209-247-9989 for tickets or more information. Tickets are $25 and there will also be ‘opportunity drawing’ tickets available for prizes.
To get involved in Relay For Life of Escalon, contact Kennedy at 209-996-0129 or by emailing Akenn27@yahoo.com.
