By Brandon HENSLEY

Maybe someday Leeann Hwang will make good on her desire to become a clinical psychologist, but for now she’s making good on her desire to impact the foothills community through the power of video editing.

Hwang is gathering photos, video, music and poetry for a video presentation that Relay for Life of Foothills will premiere on Sept. 12 on the organization’s Facebook page. Though this year we’re living in a time of COVID-19, we’re always living in a time of cancer. Hwang and the Foothills Relay for Life team are finding a way to uplift the area this summer, even if an actual Reay event can’t happen like it has for the last several decades.

Hwang graduated from La Cañada High School in 2019. Like so many others, she’s had family and friends affected by cancer. This is her first year being a part of Relay, and she’s trying to make every moment count.

“I wanted to spend my time more productively,” Hwang said of quarantine life. “I know that cancer is such an impactful disease … it should be something that people are aware of despite COVID.”

Every spring, Foothills Relay for Life teams and supporters gather at the track at Clark Magnet High School and, for 24 hours, walk around the track, raising money to fight the disease.

“It’s a terrific community event,” said Robin Hall, staff partner. “It’s a wonderful day when survivors and caregivers come out and meet in person and celebrate lives and lead the fight against cancer.”

Because of the pandemic, gathering at Clark was not an option. Instead, Hall is encouraging people to send in photos and memories for Hwang’s video of survivors and people lost to cancer. Local musician Chris Blakely will provide much of the soundtrack and Sunland-Tujunga Poet Laureate Pam Shea will contribute her words, either in a voice-over or some other way that will surely be profound.

“I’m honored to be a part of it. In a way it’s exciting for those of us who have been on the leadership team all these years. It’s a core group of people,” said Shea, who is the survivor chair for Relay. Her husband has lost three brothers to cancer.

She has been writing Relay-related poetry since 2015. She said some of her work that will be in the video will be dedicated to Ed Waldheim, who died due to cancer last year. Waldheim was an active member in the community for years and an activist for Foothills Relay for Life. Shea remembered him coming to Clark last year in his deteriorated state, and how people took turns helping him in his wheelchair go around the track.

Shea has experience holding poetry readings via Zoom and said Hwang’s video is a fresh idea for Relay to incorporate.

“In the midst of the pandemic, I’m trying to hold onto the hope that there can be positive things to come out of this,” she said. “[We’ll be] relying more on technology as we go ahead; it’s exciting because it’s something new.”

That seems to be Hall’s take as well. As disappointing as it is to not have a traditional in-person Relay event this year, Hall is appreciative of all the people who support and volunteer for the organization and is hopeful that this year’s event can be just as meaningful as past ones.

“Meeting those people was so amazing. The foothills’ community is beautiful. I’m always blown away by their big heart,” he said.

Hwang currently attends Pasadena City College and would like to stay in California when she transfers. She said she’s disappointed she’s lived in the foothills all this time and only now became a part of Relay.

“I do intend to volunteer long term,” she said. “I want to continue with fundraising. I know I’m staying in California. I’ll be around and I’m excited to see how it plays out.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/foothillsrelayforlife or relayforlife.org/foothillsca.

  Brandon Hensley, CHRIS WALDHEIM