Music
and fitness for a good cause
By Brigid McGuire
Online Forty-Niner
Diversions Editor
The fourth annual Relay for Life, will take place at 6 p.m. April 21-22 to help
raise money for the American Cancer Society (ASC). The relay will be on the track
next to The Walter Pyramid.
The “Relay for Life” event lasts for 24 hours, with teams walking
in shifts around the track to raise money for all types of cancer research. According
to the ACS Web site, 50 teams participated in last year’s event and raised
over $150,000. The total amount raised so far this year is $28,175.
According to Benny LeMaster, chairman of entertainment, the group hopes to have
75 teams this year and to see a turnout of at least 1,500 to 2,000 people.
LeMaster is a sociology major and women studies minor at CSULB.
This fundraiser holds very special meaning for LeMaster.
“ My brother died of cancer and I finally felt ready to fight back and
do what I could,” he said.
Besides being in charge of entertainment, LeMaster will also be the team captain
for Delta Lamnda Phi, where he is president.
Relay for Life began in 1985, when Gordy Klatt walked 24 hours straight and raised
$27,000 to fight cancer. He walked the Baker Stadium track at the University
of Puget Sound in Tachoma, Wash. a total of 83 miles.
Cancer walks have also been organized in 23 other countries around the globe,
with the largest being held just this past March 19 in Kirchberg with almost
200 teams and nearly 5,000 people attending.
At the Relay for Life this Friday, there will be live entertainment from bands
around the clock and a candlelight remorance at 9 p.m. to honor the lives lost
to cancer. There will be candles placed around the track, each one representing
a victim to the disease.
The opening ceramony begins at 6 p.m. Friday and will last until 6 p.m. Saturday.
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