By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

The community received a colorful reminder that Foothills Relay for Life is fast approaching.
On the morning of April 30, about 20 members of various Relay teams converged onto Honolulu Avenue armed with bright purple paint used to paint footprints onto store windows along the avenue. And the direction the footprints were all pointing to? Clark Magnet High School, site of this year’s American Cancer Society’s Foothills Relay for Life taking place May 14-15.
Paint the Town Purple is a regional event and a strong visual reminder that was started several years ago by cancer fighter Wade Battley. Her early efforts included just a few of the merchants’ windows but on April 30 three blocks of footprints could be found.
Battley died in 2008.
This year’s Foothills Relay for Life chairperson, Paula Wagner, was on hand Saturday morning for the painting event and that evening for the “mini-luminaria” ceremony at the corner of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard.
“A majority of the merchants supported our efforts by allowing their windows to be painted,” said Warner who has been a part of the Relay event for the last few years.
Warner noted that the “mini-luminaria” event on Saturday evening, when supporters walked the 2100 and 2200 blocks of Honolulu Avenue carrying small lights, was another reminder to the community of one of Relay’s powerful events – the luminaria ceremony that takes place Saturday night.
Relay for Life is a 24-hour event that begins May 14 at 9 a.m. at Clark Magnet High School and ends at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Donations are still being accepted at www.relayforlife.com and walkers are welcome at the event.

  May 12, News, relay for life, robin goldsworthy