Photograph by George Sakkestad

Rachel Braithwaite and Howard Smith participate in an exercise class at the Meadows. They're among a number of residents who'll be joining the Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Meadows residents join Relay for Life

By Shari Kaplan

Joining the ranks of the hundreds of participants in the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life fundraiser June 25 and 26 on and around the Los Gatos High School track is a small but stalwart group of senior citizens from the Los Gatos Meadows.

The two dozen or so residents of the retirement community have been preparing for the relay by working out three times a week in the Let's Get Moving classes run by the Meadows' resident service coordinator and fitness consultant Nancy Castro. The group, most of whose members are in their 80s, participated in the relay for the first time last year and walked a total of 731Ž4 miles.

"We definitely want to top that this year," says Castro, who last year walked 111Ž4 miles over the two-day event. This year she and the seniors have increased their presence to two teams, one team consisting of Meadows' residents from Let's Get Moving; the other of friends and family members of the seniors.

"Our message is to show that even if you're a senior citizen in your 70s or 80s, you can still participate in physical fitness and get the benefits of exercise. We're also here to show our support of the American Cancer Society," Castro says. In fact, it was Let's Get Moving member and cancer survivor Lee Hutchinson who first suggested the idea of organizing a Meadows team. Castro, who herself successfully overcame a bout with cancer, loved the idea, as did the rest of the Let's Get Moving members.

"This year we're looking forward to walking many more miles. They [the seniors] are really into it, body, mind and spirit. Many are walking on their own during the day and doing their own stretching and other exercises," Castro adds.

From June 25 through the 26th, communities throughout the country will observe Relay for Life, which consists of a continuous relay of teams walking or running to raise money for the ACS's many programs, including cancer research, health education programs and community outreach. The closest other relays take place in Santa Cruz, Soquel, Cupertino and Milpitas.

The 16 hours of festivities begin at 6:45 p.m. with an official opening by Los Gatos Mayor Jan Hutchins. At 9:30 p.m., stadium lights dim in deference to the Luminary Ceremony, in which participants and spectators--some of them cancer survivors themselves--light candles in honor of cancer survivors or in memory of its victims.

The relay involves teams who have gathered pledges from friends, family and local businesses. All team members need not be on the track at the same time--some don pajamas and sleep in tents while others run--but each team must be represented at all times. Through the night and day are many additional activities, including music, cancer prevention games, massages, food, treats and an appearance by S.J. Sharkie of the San Jose Sharks hockey team.

For more information about participating in the relay, sponsoring a team, buying a luminary or donating supplies to the event, call 879-1032 ext. 170.

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