The sun burst through a fury of clouds to welcome runners and walkers to the 20th annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Mission Viejo as we proudly looked back on a legacy of fighting cancer, “One City, One Dream, 20 Years of Relay.”
The year was 1994. OJ Simpson makes a run for it in his white Ford Bronco; Orange County, CA filed for bankruptcy protection and the 6.7 Northridge Earthquake hit while organizers and volunteers were busy planning and coordinating the first, American Cancer Society’s Saddleback Valley Relay For Life.
Mission Viejo joined the fight with other communities in the Saddleback Valley Relay For Life held at Saddleback College in 1994. Linda Lindholm, currently Mayor for Laguna Niguel and State Senator Mimi Walters were the first Co-Event Chairs.
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Opening the ceremony on Sat., June 7, 2014 at 9 am with her rendition of the National Anthem was Julie Reames, a 15-year old at Laguna Hills High School. This was the third year Julie walked the track with her father, Charles who is a four-year prostate cancer survivor.
Event Chair, Kat Minotta greeted State Senator Mimi Walters and Mission Viejo Mayor Trish Kelley, relayers and guests. State Senator Walters spoke on taking the challenge of the first relay and presented a resolution to the 20th Relay For Life Mission Viejo.
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Sheila Boswell, co-chair Survivor Committee spoke about hearing “you have cancer” for the second time. In 2012, Boswell battled a rare, aggressive Stage 4 appendiceal cancer. She had a hysterectomy, appendectomy, colon resection and six months of chemotherapy.
April this year Boswell was experiencing symptoms in the same area and went through tests, scans and a laparoscopy only to discover the cancer has returned.
“I am being held up by so many and the most passionate of my caregivers are my boys and my husband, Andrew. My goodness, we have been through a lot in 31 years of marriage.” Boswell said in her British accent.
“Something I have to say that may surprise people, cancer may be a huge black cloud, but there is a silver lining around that cloud. Because of cancer our marriage has deepened. I am more in love with my man than I have ever been. There, I said it. Thank you, cancer!”
Following the opening ceremony, past Event Chairs and members of their family gathered at the stage. The first lap, the Survivors Lap, started with the ribbon cutting by Marianne Yee, a cancer survivor, who has walked and ran in every Relay since 1994.
Entertainment included Cappy's Garage Rock Band, Singers Company, (kids dancing/singing), Bones West Brass Band, Mya Shimizu, (singing and playing the ukulele), Minute It to Win It Game Show by Mission Viejo Community of Character (teenagers), Hunting Waldo Band, Zumba, All Night Meat Bingo Rock Band, Sharp Turn Ahead/teen band and bagpiper, Cameron Macleod who led the Luminaria Ceremonial lap around the track with Amazing Grace.
We feasted on bagels, fruits, sandwiches, ribs, pastries, pasta- not to mention all the wonderful delicacies everyone brought. Some of our sponsors who generously donated were I Love Bagels, Starbucks, Chick fil a, Outbacks, High Park Tap House, Bagels & Brew…the list is endless.
Cake and singing “Happy Anniversary” brought laughter to the relayers after the Luminaria lap.
More than 40 teams have raised more than $115,000 to date. Throughout the day many members from the community popped in to walk a lap or two, visit and enjoy the event.
At the closing ceremony some of the awards given were Team Tricia Scott for top fundraising team and Don Scott, top fundraiser; Team Sister Act best decorated campsite, Team Chemosabe for the most team laps walked and Jennifer Bostwick (Chemosabe) for the most individual laps (156) walked.
Because of each of you- volunteers, sponsors, entertainers, musicians and relayers, the event was an enormous success. We look forward to working with all of you again. No doubt, we have until August 31, 2014 to raise more money and we will.
Cancer never sleeps and we will fight to end this disease that terrorizes each of us in some way or another.
For more information go to www.mvrelay.org, www.facebook.com/mvrelay or twitter @mv_RelayForLife.
If you have any questions, please call Margot Ferron, Publicity Chair at 949/309-1235, gomargotgo@aol.com. Thank you for helping us celebrate more birthdays.
