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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Relay for Life's $24K Doubles Last Year's Take

By Laura Nesbitt
Mountain View Telegraph
          About 200 people teamed up in the battle to fight cancer in Estancia's Arthur Park on Aug. 1-2.
        And so far the Estancia Valley Relay for Life 24-hour team walking event has raised $24,150 in committed money, which will double last year's sum of a little over $12,000, said event chairwoman Margarita Hibbs.
        The event's success was due to the extra effort made by team captains like Jeanine Garcia, Hibbs said.
        "We could make miracles happen" if everyone contributed, said Garcia, who single-handedly raised $3,185 from the 56 people on her team that included friends and family.
        Garcia, who erupted in laughter and jokes during an interview Monday, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2006. Although she admits she was "devastated" when first diagnosed, Garcia has a courageous spirit.
        "I'm determined. I love life. I'm doing this and maybe I can help by raising money for research," she said.
        Garcia plans to walk hand-in-hand in another relay for life event in Belen on Friday with her 8-year-old nephew, Milo Carrillo, who was diagnosed with leukemia several years ago.
        "I feel like I'm on top of the world. And that's my goal — to do it again next year," Garcia said about the money she raised.
        The event is the American Cancer Society's "signature activity," said Kevin Ledwith, community relationship manager with the American Cancer Society.
        "Breaking $20,000 in a small community in a second-year event is pretty huge. This year it was ranked as one of the successful events," Ledwith said.
        According to Ledwith, the relay has one team member walking around the track all night long. The goal of the event is to raise funds to fight cancer and also to honor cancer survivors and those who didn't survive the disease. In Arthur Park there were speakers, food, a survivors' reception, dancing, volleyball, horseshoes and potato sack races.
        The money raised will be used for research, advocacy, patient services and education, with the largest chunk of donated funds going to research.
        According to American Cancer Society figures from Ledwith, 66 percent of people diagnosed with cancer survive the disease. In 1946, only one in four people diagnosed with cancer survived.
        "For each dollar we raise, we really believe it makes a difference in someone's life," Hibbs said.
        Donations are being accepted for the Estancia Valley Relay for Life until August 28, Hibbs said. For more information, call 800-ACS-2345 or 260-2105.