Staff and students set up their own EZ-Up among the other tents and stations at Downey Adult School on Sat., June 4 for the all day and night Relay for Life event to raise funds to continue researching a cure for cancer. Thirty-three teams played a part; from Warren High school to Downey citizens dedicating their time to someone they loved, a total of about 540 partakers contributed an entire 24 hours for the relay. All together, over $40,000 dollars were raised with this event.
“I did this last year even though I hadn’t lost anyone I loved to cancer,” junior Mareigh Moon said, “but this year since I’ve already lost two people to the disease. I want to get out and show people that we can fight this and that’s what I love about this event.”
DHS is in its 6th year of participating in this annual event, but this year, they hoped to reach $10,000 and 3,000 miles total. By 5:00 pm on Saturday, half the monitory amount was already almost met. Mr. Manzanares acted as Downey High’s team captain, leading over 100 staff members and students on his team. Manzanares has been a part of Relay for Life since he lost his father to Lymphoma in 2005.
The event began at 9:00 am and was kicked off with the Survivor’s Lap, beginning at 9:15. The walk then continued, ending with the Closing Ceremony at 8:30 am on Sun., June 5. The teams must have had at least one person representing them on the track at all times, and as the day went on, more and more people joined their friends on the makeshift track.
“I think this is very good for the community,” sophomore Anthony de Leon said. “I came with my parents, but they left and I’ve found it’s a good way to make new friends, and it brings the city of Downey together as a whole.”
As the sun set and the campsites were covered in darkness, the lights didn’t go out as the Luminaria Ceremony took place the entire night. This is the time when people celebrate, remember, and fight back. They celebrate the lives of those who have fought cancer and won, remember the lives who have fought and lost, and fight back so there are less deaths. The day was filled with music, food and friends all working towards once cause: to find a cure for cancer.
