The annual Relay for Life of the Foothills takes place in May and already organizers are planning a dynamic event.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Organizers of the 2018 Relay for Life of the Foothills are kicking off the season by inviting everyone to Relay. Relay for Life is an American Cancer Society event. Across the nation, wherever Relay events are held, ACS provides personnel and education.

Each Relay is different, mirroring the community that sponsors it. For many years, Relay for Life of the Foothills was a strong community event where teams spent 24 hours walking a high school track. It was first held at Crescenta Valley High School then later moved to Clark Magnet High.

“Cancer never sleeps, so we never sleep,” explained Molly Shelton, the 2018 Relay for Life of the Foothills chair, of why the event is 24 hours in duration.

The 2017 Relay for Life of the Foothills in April was not well attended and was held for only 12 hours. This year, Shelton is working hard to bring Relay back to the event she knew when she was a student at Rosemont Middle School.

“[The event] meant so much to me as I was going to school,” she said. “I have been involved since seventh grade and then to come back from college and see it in a different state … I was inspired to be one of the volunteers for the Relay for Life of the Foothills.”

Her desire to be a volunteer has evolved to being the chair for the 2018 event.

For Shelton, the Foothills Relay is all about community.

“Our community works together – businesses, adults and students,” she said. “And our community can stretch beyond what is drawn on a map.”

It is the “community feel” that surrounds the Foothills Relay with all working together to bring awareness of cancer, raise funds for research, support those who are facing cancer and remember community members who have lost their battle.

The key to success of the Relay, Shelton said, is communication – keeping teams, volunteers and anyone interested updated on fundraisers, meetings and supportive events.

As an active member of the community, CV Weekly supports Relay for Life of the Foothills and, on occasion, from now to the event on May 5-6, 2018, it will be running articles titled “Why I Relay.” These will spotlight the stories of members of teams and volunteers who walk the track for 24 hours in support of the ACS and their efforts to help those with cancer.

Anyone interested in joining a team, forming a team or for more information can email Shelton at relayforlifeofthefoothills@gmail.com. Meetings for volunteers and team captains are the fourth Thursday of the month at J’s Maintenance at 3550 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta.

  Mary Okeefe