Relay for Life 2012 in Castaic

Relay for Life, March 31 - April 1, 2012 in Castaic

(Story and Photos by Gabie Cardenas)

The American Cancer Society held its second anual Relay for Life event of Santa Clarita, at the Castaic Lake, on the weekend of March 31 - April 1. The Relay for Life is a 24-hour event in which teams and supporters are camping out, walking and participating in many family-friendly events and entertainment.

The goal of the Relay is to increase cancer awareness in the community and as means to raise the much needed funds that the Amercan Cancer Society needs to run its support, research and awareness programs. The reasons for walking at the Relay are as diverse as everyone's life story and despite the rainy weather, this year's Relay had numerous participants. "We are helping create a world with less cancer and more birthdays!" is the drive for this event.

The Relay started on Saturday March 31 at 7am with breakfast. The Opening Ceremony at 9am featured speaches by the organizing chairs Debbie Schultz and Lori Bennett, the honorary chair Supervisor Michael Antonovich, the survivor Diane Weisman and the already traditional Color Guard by Young Marines. The walk was lead by the cancer survivors, honored and applauded by the participants along the lap walk - all under the live music performance of the talented local Living Reign group.

One of the main features of this year’s Relay was Brooke White from American Idol.  After the performance there was a meet-and-greet opportunity where particpants enjoyed receiving a personalized autographed photograph by Brooke White.

On the grass field of Castaic Lake, children enjoyed games, a bouncer and meeting Lincoln the "Cowboy Magician", as he introduced himself.

The many booths planted on the lawn at Castaic Lake by the American Cancer Society's teams featured quality yet affordable goods and services or games, where every penny of profits went to the cause, the fight against cancer.

Other performances through the day: Mojo Kings, Songhunter, Monkey Bump, Tribute, Aaron Miller, Chris Falcon.

Fighting back against cancer (and the rainy weather), after the sun set over the campsites and the darkness fell, the Luminaria ceremony took place starting at 9pm, introduced by speakers: survivor Mark Antonio Grant, caregiver Lynda Sargent and the event coordinators. Luminaria is a memorial made of illuminated hand-decorated paper bags, each bearing the name of someone who has battled cancer. One by one the lights for the Luminaria lanterns lit up the area, whether by survivors, family members or friends of people who's lifes were affected by this terrible disease. The lanters lined up the path on which the Relay particiants walked for 24 hours.

The Relay ended on Sunday, April 1, at 9am.

Click here to read much more on Castaic Relay For Life in an article written by KHTS’ own Mark Archuleta.  Click here to see photos from the 2011 Castaic Relay For Life.  Click here for more information.

See more photos bellow.

Register, find a team, receive appropriate	materials at the welcome booths.
There were raffle baskets, goods and	also honorary packets for the cancer survivors.
Find a breakfast item.	Grab a bottle of water.
Opening Ceremony at 2012 Relay for Life in Castaic.	Flag Ceremony by Young Marines.
The Relay for Life walk has been started by the Young Marines and	led by the Survivors, the honor guests of the event.
Live music by the talented local	group Living Reign.
First lap was walked by the survivors, cheered and honored by all the participants	who were first standing along the path, soon joining in the 24-hour effort.
SOME  OF  THE	TEAMS  BOOTHS
First "arrest" has been made, a game to benefit the Relay cause.	$5 to bail out the "prisoners" will help the fight against cancer.
THE  TIREDLESS	ENTERTAINMENT
Games and activities for children and the whole family, were	planted on the main lawn at Castaic Lake.
THE	WALK
THE FEATURE One of the main features of this year’s Relay was	CONCERT the performance of Brooke White from American Idol.
More "arests" have been made all through the day.
After the performance there was a meet-and-greet opportunity where	participants could receive an autographed photograph of Brooke White.
THE  LUMINARIA In preparation for the "Luminaria" that took place at 9pm, there was paperwork	EVENT to be double-checked and a path to be layed down for the row of lanterns.
The lanters were hand-decorated and marked in the	memory of a special person that has battled cancer.
Despite the rainy weather, numerous people gathered after dark for layed out on the same path that the Relay participants had been walking on since	the Luminaria event. Lights have been handed out, the lanterns have been 9am and an emotional ceremony with slide-shows and special speakers took place.
Everyone has been affected by cancer in some way and lights started glowing	in the night, one by one, by those who lost a relative... a friend.