Lake Forest Raises More Than $60,000 in Fight Against Cancer in the 2016 Relay For Life.

The 11th annual American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life Lake Forest was held at the Lake Forest Sports Park on July 30, 2016. Relay For Life is non-competitive event where teams composed of family, friends, coworkers and the community take turns walking, running or even strolling the track to raise awareness and funds to fight cancer.

Despite the hot weather participants had a lot of Hope. The weekend kicked-off with opening ceremonies featuring MC, Gary Hornby, Hero of Hope, Geri Stanley and her husband, Curt Stanley, caregiver and Denise Sprimont, freshman and research intern at Concordia University.

Vocalist, Kim Beaney sang a medley of patriotic songs including the National Anthem followed by an inspirational, testimonial of faith from Geri and Curt Stanley.

“It is a privilege to speak to you and know what you have gone through,” Geri Stanley, a Hero of Hope told the crowd. She battled multiple myeloma which was everywhere because it is in your bones. At one point she wore a backpack that was almost bigger than her. It had her medical treatments in it. Geri shared her scars with us.

Later her husband shared his journey as a caregiver. For 3 ½ months he held Geri’s hand and slept in a chair in ICU at the City of Hope. His wife was in and out of an induced coma. The goal was to get her in remission so she could have a bone marrow transplant.

Curt wants you to remember H is for “ I Have your back, I will Hold your Hand and give lots of Hugs. O is for optimism, “Dear God what is this all about?” Have an optimistic outlook. P is for prayer and people. “Members of our small group at Saddleback Church set-up a week and weekend schedule even to take me to lunch,” said Curt fighting back the tears. E is for Encouragement. Give positive expectations. God can get us through this.

Geri returned to speak and share her last scar. Two weeks after she got out of the hospital her 34 year old son was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer. He fought for 13 months and she was able to fight with him. With her faith she knows she will see him again. “That gives me hope. I remember my son and I fight back. I know it is hard to believe, but it was a blessing because I was his caregiver.”

According to Cheryl Bartetzko, Event Lead, Relay For Life Lake Forest met their half-a-million dollar goal for 10 years and their yearly goal of $45,000 before Relay. Bartetzko welcomed Denise Sprimont, a 17-year-old chemical researcher at Concordia University.

Seventeen years ago Sprimont was pushed around the track in a stroller by her Mom in Relay For Life Mission Viejo. Years later in 2012 she heard the words, “You have cancer,” but it was her mother who had cancer.

At Concordia, Sprimont let everyone know they are designing a chemo that has no affect on taste, kills cancer on contact or within a few days, has no side-effects, is painless and cures triple negative breast cancer.

Sprimont proudly said, “A small university is making leaps and bounds in cures for cancer. No organization has raised more money than the American Cancer Society for research. Cures are becoming a reality.”

“We cry, celebrate and walk together as a community. We have hope; tireless hope. We as a group of people will know we ended cancer.”

The Survivor and Caregiver laps followed. Throughout the day relayers walked hundreds of laps of hope, remembrance and celebration.

Twenty-eight teams raised more than $60,000 and enjoyed a block-style party with games, food and much more. Some of the games included a Hula Hoop competition, face-painting, three-legged race and water balloon toss.

The day was packed with entertainment; a kid’s zone sponsored by Home Depot, free movies, food and much more. Some of the themed laps were “Red, White and Blue,” Hawaiian, Light Up the Night, It’s PJ Time, Stuffed Toy and Crazy Hat/Bed Head.

Several bands took the stage to rock the relayers- Duct Tape Beer Band, OC Ramblers, RPL Effect, South of Mars and The Audio Joe Project. ‘Raise the Barre,” a dance/musical theater studio performed. The group of young kids from Laguna Niguel are directed by Teresa Brubaker and Melanie Pyles.

Everyone had the opportunity to walk through “Nolan the Colon,” a 20 feet wide, 12 feet high, 10 feet long inflatable colon. It illustrated the various stage of a healthy and diseased colon.

At dusk, the luminaria ceremony where candles are lit in honor of loved ones lost and in support of those who are fighting cancer took place. Dave DelGiacco spoke about losing his wife, Gina Moscatiello DelGiacco to colon cancer in July 2010.

Gina was diagnosed with late stage colon cancer in 2005. It did not slow her down. She became more active and alive. “I was honored to be there, to love Gina and take care of her.”

“Gina loved Relay. It’s a grand fellowship to so many. I am so glad you are all here. It is so important to so many and our family. I will be here next year and every year after. I will win, cancer will never win.”

Dave DelGiacco invited Colleen Remeyer to the stage to sing, “You Will Never Walk Alone,” the same song she sang at Gina’s memorial.

Peppino’s Family is a Presenting Sponsor of Relay. Joe Moscatiello, Gina’s brother briefly spoke at the Opening Ceremony. He didn’t know what Peppino’s Family Gina’s Team had raised, but the crowd was thrilled to yell, “$18,000.”

Following the ceremony there was a lap around the track led by Remeyer singing Amazing Grace. Sunday morning concluded with a fight back ceremony.

The event was a huge success because of the many volunteers, sponsors, entertainers, musicians and relayers.

Cancer never sleeps. We will fight to end this disease that affects each of us in one way or another. Fundraising continues until August 31, 2016.

For more information for the event go www.relayforlife.org/lakeforestca or www.facebook.com/LakeForestRelay/. If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Bartetzko/Event Lead at 949-981-8129 or email at chspeak@cox.net.

Feel free to contact Margot Ferron, 949/309-1235 or gomargotgo@aol.com.