The Cupertino Courier

Community

Inaugural Relay For Life draws walkers, dollars for the charity

By Ruby Elbogen

The first annual Cupertino American Cancer Society 24-hour Relay For Life began at 10 a.m. July 28, at the De Anza College track, with at least one member of each team walking or running at all times for 24 hours.

By the time the relay ended the following morning, approximately $70,000 had been raised, and more money was still coming in.

As the event kicked off, walkers were greeted by event chairperson Carol Rappucci; Cupertino Mayor Kris Wang, who had a team entered; and Martha Kantor, Chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

Cancer survivors took the track for the first lap wearing purple T-shirts. All teams were then called to the track, walking, running and dancing to the music, as their team names were called. The serious walking and running then began. Young and old, the fit and the frail, children, grandparents, teenagers, corporate executives, and members of every ethnic group banded together for one common purpose: raising money to wipe out cancer. Some were in a festive mood. Others wept, and one somber young man vowed to run 50 miles.

The participants entered the realy for different reasons. Kristi Vo, and her cousin, Helen Uong, headed the food committee. More than 350 people were given meals, snacks, drinks, coffee, dessert and 1,000 bottles of water. Vo and Uong's team, Special Missions Unit, worked in memory of Kristi's fiancé, who died of cancer at age 34.

Debi Chessen's Flamingos Fighting For a Cure, walked in honor of her husband, Stuart, winning his battle against cancer. The team of friends and family of all ages also held a silent auction to supplement their own donations, and Stuart was event facilities chair.

Cupertino councilmember Orrin Mahoney and Dave Knapp, city manager, walked with the mayor. "It's good to see city officials take an active part in Cupertino's landmark events,'' said Rappucci, "especially the relay, since every family has been impacted by cancer.''

Team tents, set up for overnight, lined the field. As night fell, there was a luminary ceremony honoring cancer survivors and in memory of cancer victims. It began with lighted bags bearing honorees names, and loving messages, being placed around the track, and positioned from top to bottom onto bleacher seats on both sides of the field. On one side the word "hope" was spelled out. On the other side, it was the word "believe."

A slide show of candid still shots taken during the day was shown on a large screen, followed by a video chronicling the day's events. Inspirational music by Christine Van Hoy, and the uplifting story of a cancer survivor who had been diagnosed while she was pregnant and survived, brought cheers from the crowd, and those taking their turns circling the track.