By Gia Hale
Hollister
– Hundreds gathered this weekend at the Eighth Annual Relay For
Life in Hollister to remember loved ones and help raise money for
cancer research.
Hollister – Hundreds gathered this weekend at the Eighth Annual Relay For Life in Hollister to remember loved ones and help raise money for cancer research.
“I’ve lost my father-in-law and cousin to cancer,” said Deirdre Jara, who helped raise money with the Grace Bible Church team. “It touches all of us. I don’t think there’s anyone that hasn’t been touched.”
The same sentiment was common among many others who attended the event.
Relay For Life is held every year to raise money for the American Cancer Society and to lend support to cancer research. The event, which took seven months of planning by dedicated volunteers, was held at San Benito High School’s Andy Hardin Football Field, where 39 teams set up tents to sell goods and house relay participants not on the track. By all accounts the evening was a success. Participating teams did their best to keep one member walking around the high school’s track at all times during the 24-hour event. Preliminary estimates put the amount of money raised at $200,000 with funds still to come in, event organizers said.
The event began Friday evening with an opening ceremony led by Eye on the Bay local television correspondent Brian Hackney, who acted as this year’s Master of Ceremonies. The opening ceremony also included speeches by cancer survivors and community members who have cared for and lost loved ones to the disease.
“To me, cancer affects everybody in one way or another,” said Tricia Harvey, who was also there with the Grace Bible Church.
Dolores Acosta has been a participant in Relay For Life since its inception eight years ago. She attended with the Badges for a Cure team from the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.
“We had about five members of our family die of cancer,” Acosta said. “My daughter and grandchildren participate also.”
Acosta was not the only person to illustrate the significance of cancer across all generations. Even 12-year-old Leo Shippley of the Young Lifeguards team felt the disease’s broad scope.
“I know a few people that have died of cancer,” he said.
Those lost to cancer were honored in one of the most touching events of the evening, the Luminara ceremony. After dark, small candles were lit in remembrance of friends and family members lost to the disease. The glowing paper votives, which surrounded the entire football field, made the astounding reach of cancer tangible to everyone there.
“It’s very emotional,” Harvey said.
Following the opening ceremony, a purple ribbon was cut to mark the beginning of the Survivor’s Lap, a triumphant walk around the track by cancer survivors and their caretakers. This was the official beginning of the relay, which would continue through the night and well into Saturday morning, with some participants walking throughout the entire event.
“I think it’s a very good turnout,” event chairwoman Carol Johnson said. “The size of the teams are even bigger this year.” Johnson said her main goal was “to have a fantastic, successful event for everyone to enjoy and have fun.” Participants were entertained with music, special themed laps and the fundraising activities of the teams.
“The music was really good,” remarked participant Carolyn Grover.
While many veterans attended the event, a host of first-timers came to the event to see how they could help.
“It was way more than I expected,” said Shaelon Morales, who was in attendance for the first time.
Many of those who chose to walk around the track to raise money stuck to traditional fundraising events, but others got creative and took their fundraising to the World Wide Web.
Hollister City Councilman Doug Emerson auctioned himself on the Internet to raise money for the event. Several dozen locals placed bids to rent the councilman for four hours. Emerson said he raised more than $1,500 with the auction. Chuck Schallhorn, President of the San Benito High School District Teachers Union, won Emerson’s time with the highest bid of $175.
Schallhorn said he plans to utilize Emerson’s time during teacher contract negotiations with the San Benito High School District next year. Emerson, a retired educator, laughed at the suggestion, but said he would do his best.
“Doug was invaluable as a financial expert last year,” Schallhorn said. “So we’re going to have him look over the budget this year.”
Schallhorn said the $175 was money well spent.
“Not only did we get an expert, but I also got a chance to support someone who really does go the extra mile,” Schallhorn said.
Emerson came out of retirement last year and taught math at the high school after learning the district was short on teachers.
Emerson also participated in the event to raise money and spent a good part of Friday night and Saturday morning walking around the track at Andy Hardin Field.
“I got two huge blisters,” Emerson said Monday. “But I enjoyed it and would consider doing it again.”
Relay committee member Carol Tortorelli summed up the night’s successes, “We had an excellent event,” she said. “All of the participants we talked to also said it was an excellent event.”
