Cancer-Busting Weekend 'Relay For Life' in Eagle Rock

A major overnight fundraiser in a national battle against cancer will be held this weekend at .

Organized by the American Cancer Society, the annual event, called Relay for Life, will be held at the Eagle Rock High School track field from 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, through 9 a.m. the following Sunday.

Groups of volunteer will take turns to walk or run in sponsored teams for 24 hours during the fundraiser. Participants will eat and sleep on the field while team members walk overnight in shifts. The idea is for at least one participant from every group to remain in motion throughout the fundraiser.

As of 1 a.m. on Saturday, 161 people from 17 teams had signed up for the so-called “2011 Relay For Life of Eagle Rock.” Together, they had raised $15,976, according to the American Cancer Society website. Those who haven’t already done so may sign up for the fundraiser by clicking here.

Among the participating teams are , Eagle Rock Brewery and Rotary Club of Northeast Los Angeles. Eagle Rock Elementary, which had 21 team members signed up as of 1 a.m. on Saturday, had already raised $8,861, the highest amount by any team at the time.

An iPhone app allows participants to not only spread the word about the fundraiser but also track their fundraising progress and thank donors by sending them a thank-you email.  

Adjacent communities such as South Pasadena have already held their anti-cancer fundraising relays and raised thousands of dollars. In Eagle Rock, volunteers recently held a yard sale on Yosemite Drive to promote and fundraise for the event. (See the photo to your right).