Morgan Hill
’s most successful fundraiser is back. The Relay for Life
committee is gearing up for its second-annual event on May 3-4 to
raise funds for the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Morgan Hill’s most successful fundraiser is back. The Relay for Life committee is gearing up for its second-annual event on May 3-4 to raise funds for the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Last year’s local event netted $128,000 and received the prestigious ‘Rookie of the Region and State’ awards.
“It was awesome,” said co-chair Chris Schilling. “We were very excited about that.”
“We have a great committee and the people who came out last year did their part. The teams fundraised,” said Schilling. “Morgan Hill is a great community and they got behind the cause.”
Schilling got involved because her 4-year-old daughter Siena has leukemia. But according to Schilling, she’s progressing nicely with the arduous two-and-a-half year treatment program.
“Obviously, I have a personal attachment, but it’s a great cause,” said Schilling.
Relay for Life is a 24-hour walk-a-thon and the largest annual not-for-profit fundraising event in the world, according to ACS.
The Morgan Hill committee hopes to net $200,000 this year with a goal of 60 teams. Seventeen groups have already signed on. People organize into teams and commit to having at least one person from their team on the track the entire 24 hours. Groups of 10 to 16 persons, with a designated captain, pay $150 for registration to cover the cost of the event itself. Each person agrees to raise $100, but obviously there is no limit.
Schilling appeared before the City Council Wednesday night and encouraged them to enter a city team and even join in the fun themselves.
Last year one woman raised $4,000, according to Schilling.
“People walk, some people jog,” said Schilling. “It’s not a competition and it’s not a race.”
It’s more of a party and celebration of life. The 24-hour idea was born because cancer doesn’t sleep. The overnight event not only raises funds but awareness of cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and patient support.
Morgan Hill’s Relay will be in Community Park on Edmundson Avenue. Participants aren’t required to stay at the park all 24 hours. But organizers are encouraging walkers to pitch tents, camp out and take part in all the happenings.
An emotional Survivor Lap kicks off the day at 10 a.m. when cancer survivors of all ages and stages start the Relay. Following that, survivors are invited to a ceremony and brunch to honor their successful fight. Throughout the day and evening there is food – three meals and snacks – education and entertainment with many donations from local businesses.
A Kid’s Camp will delight younger folks with face painting, races, clowns and water and sand activities. All ages will enjoy ongoing live music. There will be a Cancer Control section with the latest information and resources, along with featured speakers on a host of cancer-related topics.
Toward dusk is the Luminaria ceremony. Prior to the weekend, people can purchase luminarias to acknowledge someone who’s been touched by cancer. These decorated bags (holding votive candles to cast light and shadows) encircle the track and represent a path of hope toward a cure.
“That’s probably one of the big moments of the event,” said Deborah Morton-Padilla, Human Resource Director of Anritsu, who raised $1,200 last year. “Those laps you do at night when the track is all lit are really inspiring.”
The Relay for Life was Morton-Padilla’s first fundraising involvement with ACS since she had cancer several years ago. She did the Gilroy Relay for Life in 2001.
“It’s real therapeutic and you see so many other people in the same boat and that’s real encouraging,” said Morton-Padilla, who ran three half-hour stints with the Anritsu team.
“People stand on the side of the track and cheer you on; it’s a great experience. Plus, it’s really, really fun for the kids because they get to camp out and stay up all night,” she said.
The committee is actively recruiting teams from schools, businesses, service organizations, churches, parent clubs and any other source they can fathom. They’ve just started papering the town with flyers and posters. Schilling is optimistic about the 60-team goal because of last year’s success in surpassing their 30-team mark with 38 groups. Individuals interested in participating don’t have to assemble an entire team. Organizers can place future fundraisers on a team that needs members.
“We don’t want to turn anyone away,” said Schilling. “Call us and we can help put you on a team.”
“We just hit the tip of the iceberg last year. If the community will jump on board and I feel we have a great community, I think we can do it,” she said.
Everyone is welcome to attend the next team captain meeting Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express on Condit Road at East Dunne Avenue. For information on scheduling a presentation for a group or how to donate time, services or money, call co-chairs Chris Schilling at 782-1463 or Ingrid Wafelbakker at 776-8987.
Details: Relay for Life or cancer, visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.
