March 9, 2009

Willow Glen Relay kicks off

Best start signals beginning of May Relay For Life

By Carol Rosen
Editor

On Feb. 7 there was a banana and an apple walking around on Lincoln Avenue.

Helping get this year’s Relay For Life started were a crew of adult and young volunteers including, from the left, Michelle Kim, Tori Ross-a Leland High sophomore, Carrie Ross, Sydney Kim-fifth grade at Williams, Lauren Kim-Leland freshman, Mary Keenen-event chair, Anni Guptill-eighth grader at Willow Glen Middle and Molly Ravizzaan eighth grader at Willow Glen Middle. Photo by Carol Rosen

Of course it wasn’t actually a couple of pieces of fruit; these actually had legs and arms and could talk and they were part of a very successful kickoff for this year’s annual Willow Glen Relay For Life. Successful in that about 35 teams signed up for the event, 33 online with help from the new Verizon Wireless store next door to the Garden Theater Building on Lincoln.

The NJoy Mobile Store donated space and Internet access so that Walgreen volunteers Rebecca Vellios and Michelle Moore could help sign up teams. The store also plans a team of family members for Relay and will call themselves the NJoy Mobile team.

Lots of people were out that morning and helped boost the kickoff to new highs. At least 100 people stopped by during the four-hour kickoff, which provided early returns of nearly $6,000. By March 2, the numbers had increased to 39 teams, $14,263 and 133 participants for the event that will be held May 16-17 at Willow Glen High School.

It is on par to at least meet last year’s 55 teams, and with this early start has nearly surpassed the 40 teams that participated in the 2007 event. This is Willow Glen’s ninth Relay and it marks a special year for the American Cancer Society with Relay’s 25th anniversary.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life unites communities across the country each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember lost loved ones and fight back against a disease that takes such a big toll on people’s lives. Survivors are among those honored at the event who take the first lap or so around the track and receive special gifts from the Relay committee.

In the meantime, teams and survivors are still being recruited along with sponsors. So far, two big-name sponsors, Best Buy and Walgreens, have fielded a total of five teams. Other sponsors include Jack Keenan, Inc., Hillhouse and Discovery Charter School. Each of the four classes at Willow Glen High School have chosen to make the American Cancer Society their special project and will be supporting this year’s Relay as will the students at Willow Glen Middle School.

At press time the committee was keeping event features quiet, but did alert the Times to two bands that have signed up, so there will be live music.

Again this year, four of the original volunteers—Sherry Rodriguez, Debbie Evans, Pam Green and Georgia Ladd—are still part of the working Relay Committee and Mary Keenan is event chair. There are still open positions and those who would like to volunteer should check out the Web site at www.relayforlife.org/willowglenca or contact Felice Lopiccolo, online chair, at lopicc@pacbell.net.

Volunteers are essential to Relay, it is through their help that ACS can fight cancer on four fronts: research, education, advocacy, and service.