Relay for Life returns today
After 10 years, Relay for Life in Hollister is still going
strong.
”
This is our 10th year and we’re hoping to go all out,
”
said Carol Tortorelli, co-chair of Relay.
”
Visitors are welcome. Come spend your money and help us raise
money.
”
Relay for Life returns today
After 10 years, Relay for Life in Hollister is still going strong.
“This is our 10th year and we’re hoping to go all out,” said Carol Tortorelli, co-chair of Relay. “Visitors are welcome. Come spend your money and help us raise money.”
All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. A good portion will go to fund local programs, Tortorelli said.
“So far we’re probably anywhere between $60,000 and $75,000,” Tortorelli said. “We have lots more coming in.”
Relay starts today, Aug. 1 at noon at San Benito High School. Teams members will walk the track at Hardin Field.
“It’s a 24-hour walk,” Tortorelli said. “The reason for 24 hours is because cancer never sleeps.”
One member from each team must be on the track at all times.
To participate, each team must donate something, Tortorelli said. Last year, team members raised $209,000, Tortorelli said.
“The opening ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. with the survivor walk immediately after,” Tortorelli said. “That’s where all the survivors are called to the track to make the first lap, just to see how many people were able to be a survivor because of all the participants raising money for research.
The luminaria ceremony starts at 9:30 p.m.
“That’s where we put a candle in a bag that has some sand in it,” Tortorelli said. “We light those at dusk. People walk the track remembering or honoring people that had cancer and survived and had cancer and passed.”
Activities are planned for the entire 24 hours, Tortorelli said.
“We’ve got bands, martial arts demonstrations, dancers, singers,” Tortorelli said.
In honor of this year’s theme, each team will represent a country and hold an Olympic event in which their country participates.
“One of the teams got Jamaica, so they’re going to be doing the Jamaican bobsled,” Tortorelli said.
For the younger set, the Kid Zone will be opened from noon until 10 p.m. There will be a bounce house from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The Kid Zone will be closed during Luminaria.
New this year is the Fight Back Tent, Tortorelli said. It will feature Road to Recovery, a program whose volunteers provide rides to cancer patients.
Back again is the Midnight Cafe, Tortorelli said. Each team will bring baked goods from the country that they are representing.
A silent auction will feature prizes such as sports memorabilia and dinners, Tortorelli said.
“All the individual teams, they’ve got their individual raffles going on,” Tortorelli said. “One team’s going to be selling baked potatoes at night, after Luminaria. Some of them can have 30, 40 prizes that they’re raffling off.”
The build-up towards the closing ceremony will start on Aug. 2 at 10:30 a.m.
“There will be a special grand finale on Saturday, Tortorelli said.
The closing ceremony is at 11 a.m. Relay ends at noon.
There are 45 teams this year, about the same as last year, Tortorelli said.
“They average anywhere between 5 and 10 people to a team,” she said. “Of course, there are some people who have 20 or 30 people.”
