On May 18-19, Albert Einstein Academy’s Relay for Life team joined the Santa Clarita community to tackle leukemia. This year’s AEA booth was constructed in honor of the school’s late football coach, John Greaves.

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Greaves established AEA’s first football program and devoted hours to training players for the inaugural season. Even while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for leukemia, Greaves was on the field with his team whenever he had the chance.

Relay for Life allows communities across the globe to honor cancer survivors and those lost to the disease. Relay teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or a park path. The events last up to 24 hours, during which each team keeps at least one participant on the track at all times, because “cancer never sleeps.”

Einstein Academy, a charter junior and senior high school in Santa Clarita, raised over $14,200 this year between its middle and high school teams, making it the third place team in the Valley in terms of fundraising.

Along with their academic responsibilities, high school students at Einstein Academy must do 25 hours of community service each year. Students participating in Relay for Life receive community service credit for a portion of their time at the event.

On the day of the event, students and parents from AEA sold glitter tattoos, hampster ball rides, and raffle tickets to raise additional funds for cancer research.

According to AEA junior Claire Jennings, it was a moving, meaningful experience for all who attended. “From the Survivor’s Lap to the Luminary ceremony, Relay afforded us at AEA a precious opportunity to honor the memory of John Greaves and the courage of his family,” said Jennings.

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