Excellent opportunities to dress like Lady Gaga were just one of the reasons that brought people to Santee’s Town Center Community Park on Saturday raising more than $63,000 for its annual American Cancer Society walk.
“I’m going to win the Lady Gaga lap,” said Stacie Grinage, Relay for Life Santee activity committee member.
Excellent opportunities to dress like Lady Gaga were just one of the reasons that brought people to Santee’s Town Center Community Park on Saturday raising more than $63,000 for its annual American Cancer Society walk.
“I’m going to win the Lady Gaga lap,” said Stacie Grinage, Relay for Life Santee activity committee member.
Not to be out dressed, the Lady Gaga lap was just one of many themes including the best Marilyn Monroe impression, best Elvis impression, and a crowd favorite—the survivor lap.
“We had 35 teams signed up before the event,” said John Morley, event chair. “It’s a very challenging event. Everyone was challenging each other like the Santee Fire Fighters & Friends versus the Santee Cancer Crunchers teams.”
Cancer crunchers Tristan Miller, 28, of El Cajon, a survivor of melanoma, participated in the relay with her own team. Team Tristan, supported her and raised money on her behalf.
This 24-hour event had some sleeping overnight in tents.
Vicki Robinette, Elk’s lodge of Santee/Lakeside #2698 said she walked in support of cancer survivor six-year-old Riley Guilbeaux.
The Lodge has supported Riley, who was diagnosed with a Wilms’ Tumor (a type of childhood kidney cancer), for several years.
Participant Valerie Ellis not only did the relay laps but also sold custom Lego ribbons that had a variety of colors for various types of cancer. Ellis said future participants should know that “it’s 24 hours and you can come and go any of those 24 hours.”
“Common among those who are diagnosed with cancer is the question ‘What stage are you?’” said Ellis. “It’s a language that not everybody is well versed in. It’s the medical language most patients, friends, and family learn after a cancer diagnosis.”
Teams at this 13th annual event included Bussom Buddies and Pirates of the CUREibbean and slogans like “check your man” related to testicular cancer.
Lawn signs informed attendees about cancer related facts and cancer providers like Hope Lodge that provides a temporary home for cancer patients, colon cancer is not just a man’s disease and Road to Recovery helps provide transportation for patients.
Many local and East County businesses and individuals lent their support either with booths at the event or by purchasing ads in the event program.
Laps, team booths, entertainment like the band The Rollers, and tents all added up to an atmosphere where supporting cancer patients and raising money for the cause was the emphasis.
The event, an overnight community gathering, held its annual luminary ceremony with decorated, white lunch bags and candles dotting the relay route at night. Luminaries provide light and a way to also honor those who have lost their lives to cancer.
The luminary phrases, “In loving memory of Marilyn Gilmore” and “In loving memory of Jerry Hemphill” emphasized why the community supports cancer survivors and raises money for cancer research.
