‘Relay for Life’ round the clock

Teams spend 24 hours walking the track to raise cancer awareness

Rochelle Cadiz

Daily Titan Staff Writer
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Published: Sunday, April 19, 2009

Updated: Sunday, April 19, 2009

The infectious energy of survivors, students, faculty and friends alleviated the blazing sun's rays at the 24-hour American Cancer Society's Relay for Life April 18-19 at Cal State Fullerton's College of Engineering Computer Science lawn.

In its first time held at the university, more than 25 teams camped out, with members taking turns walking the track over the 24-hour period, and onlooking supporters gathered on campus to advocate cancer awareness, which some attendees described as an issue that hits close to home.

“My mom has stage four breast cancer, so I definitely had to come support,” Mario Davis, member of Team Tuffy, said.

He noted that there are many Team Tuffy members who have family or friends affected by the disease.

Students in support of the cause joined in the relay early in the morning to honor the nearly 11 million cancer survivors, as stated on the Relay for Life Web site, who are alive in the United States today. The site also notes that an increasing number of people are surviving the disease, which is another reason to celebrate survivors of cancer.

"Cancer affects me personally because it's hereditary in my family, my grandma has cancer," Brittany Sinohoi, 19, business major, said.
Sinohoi, along with her sorority sisters of Sigma Kappa, has participated in other walks that support the cause of bringing awareness to the disease, including one hosted by USC earlier this semester.

Funds raised by the event's participants are generated by teams that include campus organizations, families, local businesses, hospitals and religious affiliates. The relay is held in countries all over the world and CSUF is the newest addition to worldwide movement.

According to the Relay for Life Web site, one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Since 1985, Relay for Life has become an international movement for cancer research, education, advocacy and service to end the disease.

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the event is the world’s largest network nonprofit fundraising event. Relay for Life has raised an estimated $2.7 billion for cancer awareness and the American Cancer Society has funded 42 Nobel Prize researchers.

An opening ceremony featured a lap around the track by cancer survivors and caretakers as teams cheered along the walk route.

Throughout the day, there were themes for every hour including crazy hats and cowboys for those walking on the track and entertainment featured live music, dancers and actors.

After nightfall, a Luminaria ceremony of lighted candles commemorated all affected by the disease on the walk route as inspiration to all in attendance to continue the fight against cancer.

Nancy Hodge, a nine year survivor of breast cancer heard about the event through her son, who is the captain of the Titan Hockey team.

“The disease isn’t real to some people until it hits home,” Hodge said.

Alongside Hodge was another breast cancer survivor, Toi Costakes, who just finished chemotherapy. Costakes, an Inland Empire resident, described the importance of advocating cancer awareness.

“You can’t leave it to the powers to take care of it,” she said.

In the end, the event raised more than $12,000 for cancer prevention and treatment.

For more information on how to get involved in the fight against cancer, visit www.relayforlife.org/calstatefullertonca.

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