By Maddie Nerad
Staff Writer
In some way or another, everyone experiences the devastation of cancer. One Costa student has teamed up with the Relay for Life organization to fight back against this life-threatening disease.
The Relay for Life event raises money for the American Cancer Society through 24-hour fundraisers in which sponsored teams walk around a track.Sophomore
Allison Doami, co-president of Mira Costa’s Relay for Life Club, is in charge of organizing this year’s event and has been planning the relay since November.
“I have many responsibilities including advertising the event, forming teams at Costa, fundraising for the event, finding food sponsors, and getting entertainment,” Doami said.
Redondo Union graduate Maggie Gonzalez and American Cancer Society representative Nicole Padilla are in charge of reserving the field and scheduling the Costa event. Senior Josh Perch and j u n i o r Kayla Medrano are in charge of promoting the event and building team morale.
“Allison is on top of things,” Co-President sophomore Lauren Irwin said. “She is very good at being the communicator between the club and the event organizers outside of the club.”
Doami first became involved with the organization the summer before her freshman year. She participated in Redondo Union H i g h ’ s Relay for Life to
earn comm u n i t y s e r v i c e hours.
“I wanted to participate in the Relay in Manhattan Beach because of my great experiences at the Redondo event,” Doami said. “I was amazed at how many people came together for this organization to fight against cancer.”
Doami was a team captain at last year’s event and organized a group of 18 girls from her club soccer team, South Bay Force. Last year, the team reached its goal of raising around $2,500, which it donated to the American Cancer Society.
“Being team captain was hard work,” Doami said. “I had to make sure my team had the correct forms and that we had chaperones during the event.”
Each Relay event features a Survivors’ Lap, during which cancer survivors are celebrated by walking the first lap of the day. Doami’s personal favorite event is the Luminaria Ceremony.
“At the ceremony, people honor their loved ones who had cancer,” Doami said. “We decorate bags with the names of loved ones and put glow sticks in them so that at night all the bags illuminate.”
Doami has a personal sense of motivation to participate in Relay for Life because some of her older family members have battled and passed away from cancer.
“Recently, my grandfather was diagnosed with leukemia,” Doami said. “I want to do Relay for him to show him that cancer will not win this fight.”
According to Doami, the biggest challenge is finding a way to succesfully promote the event amongst students. Nearly 150 participants signed up, but she hopes to reach 200 by next year.
“We had a day where club members hung Relay posters all over the school,” Irwin said. “We’ve also put on fundraisers at Rubios LiSa VaLiceNte/ La ViSta
and handed out candy canes at the Manhattan Beach firework show to publicize the event.”
The event will begin at Waller Stadium on May 18 at 10 a.m. and end the next day. For every lap each particpant walks in the event, he or she will earn $5 that will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
“Students raise money for a great cause and get lots of community service hours at the same time,” Doami said.
Doami hopes the event will inspire others to become involved in the club that is close to her
heart. To sign up, students should club meetings.
“Almost everyone has been negatively affected by cancer, which makes the organization relatable,” Doami said.
Leave a Reply