El Cerrito Relay Back To Beat Cancer

The dark days — and there can be many — in the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones can be a crushing weight. That darkness vanishes and a light burns in their eyes when these special people come together knowing that they will beat cancer.

The Relay for Life can be a zany, heartwarming, even life-changing event. There's something uplifting about the sight of men wearing grass skirts and coconut bras in support of the fight against breast cancer. The Relay, of course, has a more fundamental goal to create awareness and raise funds for cancer care and research.

The Relay for Life returns to Cerrito Vista Park on Saturday at 10 a.m., when cancer survivors take the opening lap around the track. The goal this year is to raise $30,000 and El Cerrito Relay for Life chair person Laura Gonzalez says they're "very close" to getting there.

To join El Cerrito Relay for life or for more info, visit the events post on Patch.

Cancer can be an aggressive disease, but Gonzalez and her fellow anti-cancer crusaders remain just as determined and aggressive in their fight.

"We have a lot of momentum. We have friends coming together who are trying to kick cancer's butt," Gonzalez said. "We're getting a lot of support."

Gonzalez watched her grandmother and mother fight cancer. When her best friend Dawn Curtis was diagnosed with breast cancer, Gonzalez was moved to do whatever she could to help win the fight against cancer.

"I've lost friends and some are still alive," Gonzalez said. "My blood runs purple for hope; purple, the color of the Relay for Life."

The theme of the Relay for Life is "Celebrating more birthdays," and not just celebrating a birthday, but also another year of life, love and hope.

Gonzalez expects 15 teams and 186 participants to join in the event. Teams and individuals collect flat donations or pledges for every lap completed. Meanwhile, there will be three bands playing at different times, magicians and other entertainment to keep everyone dancing.

Toward nightfall, participants will light luminaria in honor of those fighting cancer or in memory of loved ones who have lost their battle. The glow from the bags that lights the track at night creates a comforting sense of community among the exhausted but still positive volunteers.

The event ends at 10 a.m. Sunday with a closing ceremony and the participants pledging never to stop fighting against cancer.