Don't Give Up the Fight

With 67 teams, roughly 1,600 participants gathered at Colton High School this past Saturday for the Relay for Life of Colton. This year marked the 10-year anniversary of the event. With the support of thousands of volunteers ranging from cancer survivors to caregivers, the American Cancer Society hosted the event without a hitch. The goal of the Relay For Life movement is to offer an inspiring opportunity to honor cancer survivors, educate individuals on ways to reduce their cancer risk, and raise money to find a cure. This year, the Relay for Life of Colton started a wellness program called Active for Life. The program was designed to promote healthy living by increasing physical activity and healthy eating among other beneficial behaviors. Participants were allowed to participate as individuals or as teams. To win a special prize, teams competed based on size. Teams with 1-19 participants are required to have 50% of their team participating in the program while teams with 20-49 members were only required 25% participation. Teams with 50 or more team members need 10%. The opening ceremony kicked off Saturday morning at 9 a.m., then going straight into the Survivors Lap. Upbeat music flooded across the Colton High School campus as cancer survivors took the first lap around the track as other participants cheered them on from the side lines. Local resident Darlene Petersen, who has battled colon cancer and is currently in remission, made the most out of the Luminaria Ceremony, taking it as an opportunity to honor those that have passed, those that have survived and those who are still fighting. Petersen wrote several names on her luminaria bag including Colton Christian Church’s former pastor, Tom Harvick who passed away from leukemia; Linda Stovall, the church secretary, who succumbed to brain cancer; and Sharon Haughney, the worship organ player, who lost her battle to stomach cancer. Petersen also included Bob North and Sarah Amenta, who are now receiving treatment for various types of cancer; her sister, Mary Lou Minich, who is in remission from leukemia; and Ann Conley who has fought through multiple forms of cancer. This ceremony provides an opportunity for people to work through their grief and find hope in those standing beside them. Relay For Life teams camped out overnight and took turns walking or running around the track. To promote “cancer never sleeps” each team was asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times during the 24-hour relay. The following morning, The Fight Back Ceremony commenced to symbolize the emotional commitment everyone makes to the fight against cancer. The event concluded with the Closing Ceremony at 9 a.m. on Sunday by remembering all of the lives that were lost and celebrating the commitment of all participants. This year’s Relay For Life of Colton raised over $82,000. Team Unforgettable shared a few words about their experience on their Facebook page, “To every member of every team, to every survivor anywhere, to every loved one that has ever been lost to cancer. It was our honor to walk with you, in support of you and in memory of you. We are proud to be only one of 67 teams of the Colton Relay for Life. As a community, we have raised over $82,000 in an effort to support one cause. One community, working as one team looking for one result. Cancer is a word, not a sentence. Until next year...”