Local Relay for Life raises awareness and cash

By Christy Scott
The Alpine Sun

     ALPINE — Alpine’s second Relay for Life stepped off in the hot sun on Saturday morning, and for the next 24 hours, the field at Joan Mac Queen Middle School was alive with people walking, running, skipping and dancing around the track. Music piped through speakers at one side, people played volleyball at a court set up in the middle, and a small tent city was erected at the end of the field.

     Hundreds of participants, representing dozens of teams signed on this year for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Alpine. Only its second year in existence, the Alpine Relay had some big shoes to fill, after a nearly record breaking first time round. The inaugural Alpine Relay for Life raised more than $33,000 for cancer research.
     “Our goal this year is $50,000,” said Brooke Dunnigan at the opening ceremonies on Saturday. “With all of the people I see here, I think this is something that we’ll be able to achieve.”
     Twenty-six teams were formed for the event, each made up of several members, representing groups such as the Alpine Community Center, the Kiwanis and Boy Scout Troop 105, as well as teams initiated by individuals. All those involved were walking to honor a loved one who has been afflicted by Cancer, or to raise awareness about this important issue.
     As well as having at least one team member on the track throughout the entire 24 hours, each team had a booth set up along the route, cheering for the walkers and taking donations. Many booths also had activities for people to take part in, Jerry Hines at True Value had a “Count the Butt,” contest, where passers-by tried to guess how many cigarette butts were in a jar: The winner got a chainsaw.
     The theme for this year’s Relay for Life was island fun, and almost every booth was decorated with colorful leis and palm trees. Many participants were dressed for the event in their own grass skirts and even coconut bras.
     As evening approached on Saturday, the whole group gathered to take part in a Survivor Ceremony, where Cancer survivors at the Relay are honored as they do a lap of the track. Before stepping off, each of the survivors was given a white dove to release in the air.
     The doves — actually white homing pigeons — were provided by Celebrate With Birds, a trainer from La Mesa.
     At 9 p.m. Saturday night, another emotional moment took place, the Luminaria Ceremony. White bags with sand and glowing candles were placed around the track, to light the way for walkers throughout the night. Each one of the candles was dedicated in honor of a cancer survivor, or in memory of someone who has passed away from Cancer.
     Stay tuned to future edition of The Alpine Sun to find out how much money was raised in this year’s Relay for Life.