March 3, 2004

Get your walking shoes on…

Fourth annual Willow Glen Relay For Life scheduled for May 15-16

By Carol Rosen
Editor

The fourth annual Willow Glen Relay For Life is gearing up for May 15-16 at the track at Willow Glen High School with cancer survivor Jennifer Barry from Willow Glen as chairperson. Last year’s relay fundraiser raised $120,000. This year’s participants are hoping to increase that amount to $140,000 and are actively looking for sponsors to help.

The annual team event to fight cancer is a 24-hour, community-based event that is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser. For the 24-hour period, teams of people gather to take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one member on the track at all times. Funds raised at Relay For Life go toward the continued fight against cancer and a variety of American Cancer Society patient programs, services and advocacy efforts.

Now is a great time to get a team together. Teams typically include 10 to 20 people, although if you can’t gather 20 people, the committee will help you find a team to join or add people to your team. The relay consists of teams walking for 24 hours.

Each team typically has a theme and their decorated tents fill the infield of the track. The teams are sponsored by friends, co-workers or corporations in addition to families, schools, church groups and various civic groups. Most of the hard work happens before relay day, making the 24-hour event a celebration of survivors, and, of course for raising money.

There are two ways to get involved. If you are interested in being a part of a team or sponsoring a team, there is a Relay Kick Off Rally scheduled for March 17 in the Willow Glen High School Cafeteria from 6- to 7 p.m. Those interested in becoming a team captain can attend a meeting on April 1 at 6 p.m. at the American Cancer Society office at 1715 South Bascom Avenue, Suite 100 in Campbell.

Participating teams must complete a team commitment form and pay a $100 registration fee. Team captains are responsible for recruiting the people for their teams, ensuring that all team-related paperwork is submitted in a timely fashion and communicate with team members prior to the event and on site. Julie Harris is the 2004 team captain coordinator.

The relay also features a number of events including a survivor lap leading off the 24-hour fundraiser along with live music and entertainment, kids activities, relay gear sales and a raffle with great prizes. People who want to help out but can’t participate in the relay can work for the raffle committee gathering donations. One highlight of the relay is the luminaria ceremony. This begins near dark when sacks of candles placed around the track are lit. People in the bleachers also light candles to spell out HOPE and CANCER FREE WORLD. The ceremony is beautiful and often breathtaking.

If you or someone you know is interested in helping, committee slots are still open and volunteers also will be needed on site to work during the 24-hour event. If you’d like to help, contact the Cancer Society’s office at (408) 688-0100.