Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita
The Relay for Life East Shore recognizes every name honored on
the Luminaria bags during the reading, which will occur during the
Luminaria Ceremony on Saturday evening.
ILLUMINATING WITH HOPE
AND INSPIRATION
By Jeannie Howard
Year after year the reach of cancer continues to
spread, touching the lives of countless individuals. While
feelings of helpless can often take over, a small, yet
significant, way that individuals can contribute to the
fight and find solace is by connecting with others dealing
with cancer. For more than thirty years, The American
Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events, held throughout
the year across the nation, are a powerful conduit for
healing and fundraising.
“This event is a way to find others in similar
situations and to realize that we are not the only ones,”
described Frank Biafore, event lead for the Relay for
Life East Shore event. “It can also be a very emotional
community supporting event.”
The Relay for Life East Shore will take place from
10 a.m. Saturday, August 11 to 10 a.m. Sunday, August
12 at Cerrito Vista Park. “It is a 24-hour walking
event because people with cancer have to deal with
it 24-hours a day,” he said. Kicking off the event will
be an opening ceremony honoring individuals that
have been affected by cancer, followed by the survivor
walk, which is open to all cancer survivors. Closing
the first day is the visually and emotionally powerful
Luminaria Ceremony when hundreds of crisp white bags
containing lights, each representing a life, are lit.
“At dusk, the bags are illuminated, lighting the
entire track like little stars,” Biafore said, describing
the Luminaria Ceremony. According to the American
Cancer Society, this ceremony is a symbol of the
darkness that patients feel when they are diagnosed
becoming illuminated by hope and inspiration. The
luminaria bags can be dedicated in memory of a person
24 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM JULY 2018