2008 Woodie Awards
Annual Fundraiser Raises Money, Cancer Awareness
Erika Reyes
Issue date: 8/25/04 Section: LIFE
- Page 1 of 1
Approximately $66,000 was raised at the Relay for Life cancer benefit held June 19 and 20 in the Citrus College Stadium.
Relay for Life is an annual fundraiser that first originated in the midwest in 1985 and has now spread to more than 3,000 communities around the country.
This is the first time the event has been staged at Citrus College.
During this event teams of local people walked or ran on the stadium in honor of their deceased loved ones and cancer survivors. About 28 teams participated.
The largest team was the Citrus College Cosmetology Club team with 20 people. Their team alone raised approximately $2,000.
"This was a 24-hour event," said Anne Ott, president of the Cosmetology Club. "Each team needed representatives to walk on the field for the 24 hours. Our team took shifts walking."
The cosmetology team walked in honor of their instructor Ervalyn Brooks, who is a cancer survivor.
"It made me proud that the team walked for me," Brooks said. " I lost my father to cancer, and they thought of him too.
Terry Damron, dean of physical sciences, made the suggestion to Dr. Michael J. Viera, superintendent/president of Citrus College, that this year's event should be held on campus.
"Local restaurants donated food, people brought sleeping bags and had tents and stayed for 24 hours," Damron said.
Participants lit luminaries for both survivors and for those who have passed on. At night there was a beautiful ceremony with several speakers.
"There was a lot of unity and comfort," said Tegan Hurt, cosmetology student. "I have a 4 year-old niece who has leukemia and a 6 month old niece that passed from cancer. It was refreshing to see how many people were there for support. This is something I will continue to do."
"I was ecstatic to find out that an event like this was being hosted by Citrus," said cosmetology instructor Albert Graciano. "I lost my brother to cancer and several friends. I hope this event will continue year after year at Citrus."
Activities for children, including jumpers for them to play in, were provided along with karaoke and a DJ.
Perry Morrow, a skilled maintenance worker at Citrus, is also a cancer survivor.
"I don't wish this disease on anybody. We really need a cure," he said.
Relay for Life is an annual fundraiser that first originated in the midwest in 1985 and has now spread to more than 3,000 communities around the country.
This is the first time the event has been staged at Citrus College.
During this event teams of local people walked or ran on the stadium in honor of their deceased loved ones and cancer survivors. About 28 teams participated.
The largest team was the Citrus College Cosmetology Club team with 20 people. Their team alone raised approximately $2,000.
"This was a 24-hour event," said Anne Ott, president of the Cosmetology Club. "Each team needed representatives to walk on the field for the 24 hours. Our team took shifts walking."
The cosmetology team walked in honor of their instructor Ervalyn Brooks, who is a cancer survivor.
"It made me proud that the team walked for me," Brooks said. " I lost my father to cancer, and they thought of him too.
Terry Damron, dean of physical sciences, made the suggestion to Dr. Michael J. Viera, superintendent/president of Citrus College, that this year's event should be held on campus.
"Local restaurants donated food, people brought sleeping bags and had tents and stayed for 24 hours," Damron said.
Participants lit luminaries for both survivors and for those who have passed on. At night there was a beautiful ceremony with several speakers.
"There was a lot of unity and comfort," said Tegan Hurt, cosmetology student. "I have a 4 year-old niece who has leukemia and a 6 month old niece that passed from cancer. It was refreshing to see how many people were there for support. This is something I will continue to do."
"I was ecstatic to find out that an event like this was being hosted by Citrus," said cosmetology instructor Albert Graciano. "I lost my brother to cancer and several friends. I hope this event will continue year after year at Citrus."
Activities for children, including jumpers for them to play in, were provided along with karaoke and a DJ.
Perry Morrow, a skilled maintenance worker at Citrus, is also a cancer survivor.
"I don't wish this disease on anybody. We really need a cure," he said.