Annual event draws community out to raise money, awareness of
cancer
Nearly 25 years ago in Tacoma, Wash. a doctor by the name of
Gordy Klatt wished to enhance the income of his local American
Cancer Society office. To show support for all of his patients who
had battled cancer, Klatt decided to personally raise money for the
fight against cancer according to the Relay For Life Web site. In
May 1985, Klatt spent 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium
at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. While he ran nearly 83
miles, 300 of Klatt’s friends, family, and patients watched.
Throughout the night, supporters donated $25 for every 30 minutes
Klatt ran or walked. In the end he raised $27,000 to fight
cancer.
Annual event draws community out to raise money, awareness of cancer
Nearly 25 years ago in Tacoma, Wash. a doctor by the name of Gordy Klatt wished to enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society office. To show support for all of his patients who had battled cancer, Klatt decided to personally raise money for the fight against cancer according to the Relay For Life Web site. In May 1985, Klatt spent 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. While he ran nearly 83 miles, 300 of Klatt’s friends, family, and patients watched. Throughout the night, supporters donated $25 for every 30 minutes Klatt ran or walked. In the end he raised $27,000 to fight cancer.
Since then, Klatt has inspired people to do exactly what he did in the name of fighting cancer. Now it has become an event done throughout the nation each year and it is called The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.
Participating in the fundraiser for the 11th year, Hollister residents will be holding their very own Relay For Life on Friday, July 31 at the San Benito High School Andy Hardin Stadium. The theme will be “Night at the Movies” and the event will last from 5:30 p.m. July 31 until 11 a.m. August 1.
Over the years Hollister’s community has raised more than a million dollars in their Relay For Life.
“For our little community being able to do that is a big feat,” said Chuck Obeso-Bradley, Co-Chair to Relay For Life with Kim Vera.
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Relay For Life, and most are enrolled as team members (this year will have more than 47 teams). The teams must keep one member walking the track at all times during the relay. The most popular events, as well as the most attended, going on at the Relay will be the Luminaria Ceremony along the Survivor lap.
The Luminaria Ceremony is a special moment during the event in which the Relay participants honor those who have survived cancer, are still battling cancer, or as a remembrance to those who did not make it. For $5, all of which is going to the American Cancer Society, the name of a loved one can be decorated on the outside of the Luminaria bag and placed around the track. The Luminaria are then lit up to help remind everyone what Relay For Life is all about: cancer, its victims, and how finding a cure is crucial.
At the end of the Luminaria Ceremony, which is around 11 p.m., a special raffle prize will be announced. The prize includes a pair of Giants tickets and a free hotel stay in the Bay Area.
New to this year’s Relay For Life is the participation in the Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS 3). CPS 3 is an invitation to persons between the ages of 30-55 who have no history with cancer who would be willing to be involved in a long-term study. Only 22 sites in all of California are participating in this study, with Hollister is one of the selected locations. The committee is specifically reaching out to those who have never had any experience with cancer to participate in the CPS 3 study.
The committee has been working hard for eight months now, beginning in November of 2008. Community members as well as local business will be participating, and a good turn out is expected.
“The committee has been doing a really great job,” Obeso-Bradley said. “We’ve got food and entertainment. It’s going to be good event.”
