Relay for Life: Cancer Never Stops

By Brie Roche-Lilliott, Staff writer

On Saturday, May 30, 2009, a group of dedicated people began the 24-hour walk around the FVHS track in order to raise money for treatment for cancer victims. By 11 am, around 50 people were collecting a symbolic bead for every lap they walked.

Some participated to remember their own battle with cancer. Kari Johnson, a 5-year cancer survivor, took part in the Relay for Life for the first time. She had participated in many other walks, including the Revlon and Avon walks for cancer, and decided to add another to her list.

“The motto for the walk is that cancer never stops, and that’s what they’re trying to demonstrate.” Kari’s goal was to walk for as long as she could.
Various tents, kiosks, and booths covered the center field; among these were Kiwanis, Luminaria, Sam’s Club, and the FV fire department.

Scattered throughout the patron tents were various stands handing out food and beverages to walkers and survivors, as well as a live band providing cheerful music.

Melissa Jovi, an independent consultant of Cookie Lee, sold products to the crowd to donate to the American Cancer Society. The money they receive goes to the cancer fund, as well as gifts, raffles, and survivor gift bags.
“My family is on the track. It’s our fourth year participating here, but I host Cookie Lee at about 16 events annually,” says the dedicated representative. She knows many victims of cancer and uses these events to show respect and support to all people suffering with cancer.

13 year old Sarah and 10 year old Haley Cohen participated in first walk and came with their grandma, a cancer survivor herself.

Haley is going through her own struggle. “She [Haley] has something in her brain- like ‘pre-cancer.’ She has to get surgery to have it removed before it becomes anything serious,” says older sister Sarah.

To participate in the walk, each team must have a walker on the track at all times, so the majority of the teams are made up of dedicated families. Husbands, wives, children, and grandparents have sleeping tents and campers set up around and inside the track, taking shifts to give each other a chance to rest.
For Larry Serota, a participant, it was his fourth year walking, and he makes his own donations every year. “Each new year I remember a new person that I’ve known who has survived or battled cancer.”

Teams, students, and families throughout Orange County participated in the 2009 Relay for Life. While Fountain Valley has hosted the Walk for 5 years, it has been going on for over 20 years now. They average fundraising they’ve had during the 5 years in Fountain Valley is approximately $70,000.
Each year the bar is set a little higher. The sight of over 50 adults, teenagers, and children alike, fills many with motivation and determination. These people are standing up and making an effort to assist thousands of people dealing with cancer.