By Khalida Sarwari
Lace up your comfiest sneakers and get ready to walk at Campbell’s annual Relay for Life event, slated for the first weekend of July.
For 24 hours, starting at 10 a.m. on July 7, the Campbell Community Center will be abuzz with the sounds of residents coming together to support the American Cancer Society’s 12th annual volunteer-driven fundraising event.
As of early June, 583 participants had signed up to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients, according to event co-chairwoman Aly Makishima.
“Campbell has been one of the strongest Relay events in California for the past few years,” Makishima said. “This year we hope to make an even bigger impact by reaching our fundraising goal of $250,000 and involving over 900 participants.”
With $73,641 raised so far, the committee appears to be well on its way to reaching that goal. This year’s event will bring together teams from local businesses, schools, churches and families who will camp out, take turns walking around the track at the community center and participate in a number of activities throughout the 24-hour event.
“Anyone who is interested in attending the event can come at any time during the 24-hour event,” Makishima said. “We will have a number of activities for everyone, young and old, survivors, caregivers or just Campbell residents throughout the entire day.”
Relay for Life will kick off with the Survivors’ Lap, an event where hundreds of cancer survivors and their caregivers take a victory lap around the track. Other features of this year’s Relay for Life include performances by a number of local bands, a laser tag area, a jump house, a kids’ craft area, a late-night comedy hour and teams doing onsite fundraising, including raffles, food sales and other games.
A luminaria ceremony will take place at 8:30 p.m. During the event, participants may purchase a luminaria, which are white bags that are decorated by Relay participants with the name, photo, message or drawing in memory or in honor of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer. The luminaria bags are placed around the track and lit during a memorial program. The suggested donation for a luminaria is $10.
Over the course of 12 years, the Campbell Relay for Life has raised more than $2 million. The event is held in communities throughout the country to spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors and remember those who lost their lives to the disease.
“Being a part of Relay is one of the most inspiring and uplifting experiences you will ever have,” Makishima said. “Every participant can have a direct impact on finding a cure.”
For information about joining or starting a team, visit the Campbell Relay for Life website atwww.relayforlife.org/campbellca or contact Makishima at relaycampbell@gmail.com. For updates during the 24-hour event, follow @CampbellRFL on Twitter or on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/CampbellRelayForLife.
