Relay for Life Coming to Grand Park, Still Time to Build a Team

Marlene Lewis said she recognized the sadness in the eyes of the elderly woman walking toward her booth at the Relay for Life.

She was a survivor, but at the event alone. They spoke for a while, Lewis trying to make the woman smile. At the booth in a pile of prizes Lewis had been giving out to visitors was a small purple teddy bear. The woman smiled as she touched the soft fur. Her face lit up as Lewis gave her the bear.

Aliso Viejo’s Relay for Life is gearing up for the July 28-29 event in Grand Park. Lewis, who is the 2012 event chair, said volunteers and teams are still needed. For the 24-hour relay, they hope to have:

• 30 teams
• 25 survivors
• $50,000 in fundraising
• 300 participants
• 15 committee members

“We can always use more volunteers, food, entertainment and sponsors—especially from the larger corporations,” she said.

The 2011 Relay for Life raised more than $68,000.

Lewis said she originally volunteered with the Relay for Life because she was concerned about her health after living next door to someone who smoked “18-hours” everyday.

This year, the relay will do more to honor the caregivers, Lewis said. The event will feature a caregiver tent and they will be given special recognition during the ceremony.

To learn more about Relay for Life or to sign up a team or as a volunteer visit their website at relayforlife.org/alisoviejoca.