Relay for Life, an annual event sponsored by the American Cancer Society to raise money for research, brings community members affected by the disease together to celebrate survivors, remember those who have died and fight the disease by raising money for a cure. The relay lasts for 24 hours to symbolize that cancer doesn’t sleep.
Like many of the 800 people who participated, co-chair of the event and cancer survivor, Kyle Jackson, had battled the disease. At seven years old, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“It wasn’t genetic, it was an eenie-meenie-miney-mo cancer,” Jackson said.
After undergoing several chemotherapy treatments he recovered when he was 8 years old, and that same year was chosen to speak at a Relay for Life event in Sonoma, his hometown. He said coordinators always invite survivors and those diagnosed to speak to give a face to cancer.
“We want all the participants to see the lives they are saving. It is a motivational thing,” Jackson said.
He said after speaking, he stayed for the rest of the event and from then on returned every year. It is the sense of community joined by one cause for different reasons that keeps him coming back, Jackson said.
“The vibe at these events are usually high energy and there is a lot of commotion because there are a lot of different things going on,” Jackson said.
The festivities began at 10 a.m. Saturday, when Jackson and co-chair, Cal Poly child development junior Alyssa Keller kicked-off the event by explaining the significance and history behind Relay for Life.
During the opening ceremony, Keller said the first relay started in 1985 when a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, Dr. Gordy Klatt, walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. She said the event has also become the largest movement to end cancer with more than 3.5 million people in the United States and 19 communities in other countries participating.
It was Keller’s first time coordinating the event. She said ever since she first helped her dad make lunches for participating teams, she wanted to be involved. Watching the community come together made her realize that people are trying to make a difference to fight cancer, Keller said.
“I relay because I think more people should celebrate the little things in life. I want to grow up and have kids and not worry about them having cancer. Raising money for Relay for Life is the most realistic way I can do that,” Keller said.
Keller introduced two cancer survivors who spoke about their fight with the disease. As a child, that part of the event left a big impression on Keller.
“It was the first time I was exposed to people openly talking about cancer,” Keller said.
One of the survivors introduced was Cal Poly alumnus, Clinton Judd . He said while completing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2006, he discovered a lump the size of a pea near his neck. Over the next few weeks the lump grew and after having a biopsy, he was diagnosed with hodgkin’s lymphoma. He said he immediately began researching the disease on the Web and became terrified after reading the descriptions. However, he said remaining educated on the disease was vital to his recovery four years later.
“Cancer is not a death sentence,” Judd said. “It is something you can fight.”
After he finished his speech, Judd was joined with about 20 other cancer survivors to start the event with the “survivors’ walk.” This was followed by the “virtual survivors walk,” where attendees wore a purple sheet of paper with the name of someone who survived cancer, but was not present.
Of those who walked the second lap were Tempelton residents, Tamara and Richard Gonzalez. As they strolled passed the near 50 tents and booths of teams, they said it was remarkable to see how the relay at Cal Poly has grown over the the past five years.
“There are definitely more students this year and it is nice to see them create their own atmosphere for dealing with something so serious as this,” Richard Gonzalez said.
However, the tone of the day remained lighthearted as teams battled in a water balloon toss and watermelon-eating contest. Games, live music and movies were scheduled every hour to keep participants entertained throughout the day, Keller Said.
A board entitled “Why I relay” on one side and “Eff Cancer” on the other were also displayed in the middle of Dexter Lawn for participants to anonymously share their thoughts about the race and disease. During opening ceremony, Jackson, who had the idea for the board, shared his experience how much he hated losing his hair. He wanted to encourage others to write whatever they felt and to not be ashamed.
“I went bald and I don’t look good bald. I have a funny-looking head,” Jackson said.
Many of the other events, like energy drink and root beer pong, were also included to keep teams up all night. Cal Poly animal science junior, Aly Cole said the games were something that would only make sense during a relay where the number of students participating was so high, like Cal Poly.
Cole and agricultural communications sophomore Liz Layton helped coordinated the Luminaria Ceremony that took place around 9 p.m. During the ceremony, bags with names of those who have passed away because of cancer were illuminated by the glow sticks inside. The bags are then placed along the track to bring light to the path walked by friends and family of those suffering or who have died from the disease.
“It is a chance to remember all those lost and celebrate those who succeeded in their fight against cancer,” Cole said.
Layton said that this was one of the more seriousness and moving events for attendees to join together and reflect on their experiences with cancer.
At 8 a.m., art and design junior, singer-song writer, Chase McBride performed and the closing ceremony followed.
