Every year, around 2 million people in the United States alone get diagnosed with a type of cancer. To support all these diagnosed people, Irvine’s Great Park held an event by teaming up with the American Cancer Society and creating an event called Relay for Life. Relay for Life “is a life-changing event that helps communities across the globe celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease” said the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society (ACS) made an announcement saying that 943 people signed up. These participants gathered up in teams and the total donations ACS made was $76,351.
To be able to handle this huge event, volunteers were needed. Students had the opportunity to sign up and help out at each booth like the Luminaria Booth, the Caretaker Booth, and the Food Booth. “The Caretaker Booth was where people who had a loved one diagnosed with cancer come up and write a story to share,” said Helen Ko, a sophomore at Northwood High School. “Even though a lot of people didn’t come up to us, some stories were really touching and sad.” People who were diagnosed with and cured from cancer attended this event and ran themselves. “It was really nice to see the people who survived,” said Ko. “Someone that survived 51 years ago even came up to the booth with her husband. It was nice talking to her.”
People might wonder what the American Cancer Society is going to do with all the fundraised money. “What would they do? I mean, maybe help the people who have cancer pay the hospital bills. But, I am pretty sure that the group won’t be able to pay for everyone,” said Julie Kwak, a junior from Arnold O. Beckman High School. The ACS wrote stated that the fundraised money went to Hope Lodge and college scholarships for students who were diagnosed with cancer. “Everything is going into good use for people who had anything to do with cancer,” said Kaitlin Lee, a sophomore at Arnold O. Beckman High School. “I want to volunteer more so that a lot more money can be raised for people that conflicted with the problem of cancer.”
