By Raushan Melton
Staff Writer
The American Cancer society held its annual 24-hour Relay for Life event on May 30th at Mira Costa High School in the Waller Stadium to raise money for cancer research and awareness.
The American Cancer Society is a non-profit health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. The organization created the Relay for Life event, a cancer fundraising walk and overnight stay on the track. At the Mira Costa event, a total of $57,000 was raised.
“I was really proud of the purple people team. We were ranked 3rd overall and raised almost 5k,” participant and sophomore Isabella Polizzotto said. “This was my first year doing Relay for Life so I didn’t know what to expect, but after leaving it I felt extremely emotional with a different and larger view on cancer.”
Relay for Life began with the opening ceremony, the Survivor lap and the caregiver lap. For participants to be able to stay the night and camp on the field, a minimum of $100 dollars was charged. In the morning, the closing lap ended the event at 10 a.m.
“It was cool to see all of the different laps that symbolized meaning to each individual,” participant and sophomore Liz Luck said. “I felt like it really represented everyone who had been affected by cancer respectfully, and gave the event a sense of community.”
Entertainment was provided at a main stage which included Mira Costa’s own Comedy Sports as well as individual students’ performances. Meanwhile, each team had to have at least one member walking around the track at all times, while some teams hosted athletic games on the field.
“Our team, the Purple People, had a ton of activity going on alone. We had plenty of walkers, other members watching performers, and I enjoyed volleyball,” team co-captain and sophomore Cecilia Radl said. “There were a ton of students as well as adults. It was really nice to have the community to be together all in the support of a great cause.”
Every year, Relay for Life requires teams to have chaperones partake in shifts at the event. However, this past event, Relay for Life required for chaperones to stay twenty four hours.
“The change in the chaperones was so stressful to deal with, because no parents could stay for that long,” team captain and sophomore Andy Large said. “People didn’t give us chaperones until the last minute and that was hard to deal with, but I’m glad it worked out and so many people came out to the event.”
Multiple sponsors, such as Pressed Juicery, Yogaworks, El Torito, Hubert’s Lemonade, and others, distributed samples, free drinks, and meals. El Torito provided assorted burritos for those who paid to stay overnight, while Yogurtland gave samples of their frozen yogurt.
“I felt that all of the sponsors being present at Relay was awesome,” co captain and sophomore Amelie Vergnolle said. “There were so many, but next year I want to talk to different town businesses to see if they want to participate. It was bigger corporations this year, and because relay is such a community event it would be nice to have local businesses be a part of it.”
The Luminaria ceremony began at 9 p.m. Participants were able to create their own luminaria bags for 10 dollars. The glowing bags were then placed around the track and another set was arranged to say “HOPE” along the bleachers. After the ceremony, all participants did a silent lap around the track as a community.
“I thought that the luminaria was a beautiful ceremony,” team captain and sophomore Lily Travis said. “Maggie Walsh and the American Cancer Society did an amazing job in honoring cancer survivors, fighters, and others who have been touched by cancer. It really put hope into people’s hearts in the fight against cancer and summed up the entire night portion of the event beautifully.”
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