20 years strong
Relay for Life celebrates two decades in Porterville
With the weather cooling down and the sun shining bright, the 20th annual Relay For Life event kicked off Saturday morning at the Summit Charter Collegiate Academy football field.
Team booths were spread out across the football field and as ‘relayers’ walked and ran laps around the track, while those under the protection of shade provided by canopies cheered and applauded.
The theme for this year’s Relay was superheroes, and was made official by the appearance of heroes like Deadpool and Spiderman.
Booths adorned with themed decorations displayed gift baskets ready to be given away and souvenir or snack items for sell.
Among the booths, Setton Pistachios, a leading sponsor for the Relay, displayed a board announcing the total amount of funds they had raised, bringing in over $50,000.
Patrick Braddock, a Setton employee, event lead and caregiver who lost his father to cancer spoke about the reason he relays. “My father was always a very active man, played basketball un-
til he was 50,” said Braddock. “He taught until he was diagnosed. He was at the San Joaquin Valley College. He loved to share knowledge. He loved to help people.”
Braddock wasn’t alone in sharing stories of loved ones who have battled with the disease.
Samantha Pipkin, a caregiver to her husband, also shared her story. She explained that once her husband was diagnosed, life began to look bleak, but the love he has for their daughter pulled him out of the darkness. Pipkin shared some things she learned having to watch her husband fight for his life.
“You learn to ride this crazy wave we call life with a smile,” Pipkin said with a teary smile. “You enjoy the little things. You embrace your joy and you remember that nobody fights alone.”
As night fell and the sky darkened, the anticipated luminaria ceremony began. White bags with tea light candles inside lined the track. As each candle recieved its flame, the decorated bags illuminated with a golden light and displayed the names of those who have been physically affected by cancer. Survivors and those who have lost their battle were commemorated with a silent lap around the track with nothing but the moonlight and the flickering luminaria bags to light their way.
An empty table ceremony took place as a single table set for one person stood in the center of a stage set up near the middle of the football field. It was set for one in remembrance of those who have passed due to cancer.
Ro Cortes, a relayer who lost her aunt to cervical cancer, expressed why Relay for Life is important to her.
“No relayer can say the pain is as much as a cancer patient,” Cortes stated. “You’re tired out here, it’s a 24-hour event, but the pain you feel out here is nothing compared to what they go through.”
Music echoed throughout the night as relayers continued their laps around the track. As the night gave way to the morning sun, the relay wound down to a close. A pancake breakfast was served before cleanup began.
According to accounting committee members, this year’s event raised over $80,000. All of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to help fund research and programs for cancer patients.
“We can never give up. We will find a cure,” encouraged Braddock to the Relay participant. “The people who are affected by this right now see us standing here supporting them, that gives them strength and them having strength give us strength to keep supporting them. It’s a team effort. For those that are care givers, never give up on your loved ones. For those that are affected by it, we will never give up on you, ever.”