Relay for Life Committee Needs Volunteers

Are you still looking for a New Year’s resolution? How about volunteering?

The Aliso Viejo Relay for Life Committee needs members and volunteers.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is an overnight event in which teams of people camp near a track and take turns walking laps for 24 hours.

The relay, which raises money for cancer research and American Cancer Society (ACS) programs, will be held in Aliso Viejo’s Grand Park July 28-29.

“It’s a fun-filled community event with food, entertainment, games, information and an opportunity to meet your neighbors,” said Marlene Lewis, the event committee chair.

Current committee members share their reasons for volunteering:

“For me, it’s the cancer research part, finding a cure,” said Ted Norman, the committee’s online chairperson.

Norman lost both of his grandfathers to cancer. His father, who had melanoma removed, has been cancer-free for four years.

“We want to celebrate the successes of survivors, big or small,” said Norman.

The relay begins with an inspirational Celebrate ceremony in which survivors and caregivers take a victory lap around the track.

“I totally bawled through the whole thing,” Danielle Burch, the team development chair, said of the survivor lap.

Burch and her partner, Kelly Lomeland, the event co-chair, walked in the relay for the first time in 2011. They both lost their fathers to cancer.

After dark at the relay, participants Remember loved ones in a Luminaria Ceremony. The track is lined with paper bags containing lit candles. Those touched by cancer or lost to the disease are honored with a message on a bag and a silent relay lap.

Lomeland said she and Burch would’ve done the relay again in 2012 “no matter what,” but they’ve gotten more involved because they want to make it better.

“We want to be more recognized throughout the community,” said Lewis.

With increased participation in the relay, Lewis hopes to raise awareness by informing the public about the steps they can take to prevent cancer.

“I like people to know that second-hand smoke is a carcinogen and that the drifting smoke attaches to your skin, hair and clothes,” said Lewis. “We all know and love someone who smokes. We want to inform them that smoke affects the lives of their friends and loved ones, not just themselves.”

“Cancer has become too frequent a word in our vocabulary,” said Lewis. “When I hear of anyone with cancer, I get mad and want to fight back.”

Fight Back is the closing ceremony of the relay. Participants make a personal commitment to save lives by getting a screening test, quitting smoking or talking to elected officials about ways to fight cancer.

The public is invited to learn more about the committee’s volunteer opportunities by attending the Aliso Viejo Relay for Life committee meetings.

Beginning in February, committee meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of every month from 7 to 8 p.m. in the community room at the Aliso Viejo Library. Light refreshments will be served.

They will also be holding "informational happy hours" at local restaurants. 

“We’re a persistent group,” said Norman. “We’re going to get the word out. We’re passionate about this and we want to have a successful community event.”

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Information about Aliso Viejo Relay for Life committee meetings, “informational happy hours” or volunteer opportunities is available at relayforlife.org/alisoviejoca, on facebook,  or through email avrelayforlife@yahoo.com.