Relay For Life Returns May 14 at South High
Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. Maybe it’s your spouse, parent, sibling, friend, or worst of all, child. Maybe you’ve had cancer yourself. My mother died of pancreatic cancer when I was 18, and it affected me profoundly.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2021 there were an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed and 608,570 cancer deaths in the U.S. Cancer remains a leading cause of death, second only to heart disease.
Relay for Life, the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, is the world’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event dedicated to fighting cancer. For over 35 years, communities across the world have come together to honor and remember loved ones and take action to save lives. During Relay For Life, teams have at least one member walking on a track at all times over a 24-hour period, because cancer never sleeps. Funds raised through Relay For Life directly support research, 24/7 support for cancer patients, access to lifesaving screenings, and much more.
Relay For Life Torrance returns for its 20th year on May 14 at South High School. This year’s theme is “Re-Lei For a Cure,” and will include opening ceremonies at 9:00 am, followed by a survivor/caregiver walk at about 9:25 am. At 8:00 pm hand-made Luminarias will be lit around the track to represent a life lost to cancer, a survivor, or support for a person still fighting the disease. It’s a powerful demonstration that provides the opportunity to grieve but also offers comfort and hope. Closing ceremonies follow the Luminaria event.
This will be my 14th year serving as captain for the Hollywood Riviera Sportsman’s Club Relay For Life team. Please consider joining our team if you’d like to get involved (women and men are welcome).
To sign up for the Hollywood Riviera Sportsman’s Club team, or to donate funds to the American Cancer Society, please contact me at 310-892-6016 or [email protected]
Donations are accepted until late August. Your gift is tax-deductible as a charitable contribution to the fullest extent allowed by law.
For more information about the American Cancer Society’s support for survivors and patients, call them 24/7 at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. I hope to see you at South High on May 14 as our community pulls together once more to fight back against cancer.