Walkers Raise $38,000 for Cancer Victims
More than 130 people who raised $38,000 in donations took to the track at Ventura High School’s Larrabee Stadium this weekend to participate in an all-night walkathon benefiting cancer victims.
Relay for Life was a first-time event for the Greater Ventura unit of the American Cancer Society. Thirteen 10-person teams started walking about 6:30 p.m. Friday and stopped at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Joseph Spirito, superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District, cut a ribbon on the track to start the walk.
“The turnout was much more than they anticipated and so were the donations,” said Naomi Brand, a walker and sister of the event’s co-chairwoman, Deborah Brand-Matthews. “It was wonderful.”
Dozens of cancer survivors made the opening lap to kick off the event, Brand said. Luminarias containing the names of more than 300 cancer victims lined the oval and also spelled out the word “hope” in the bleachers.
During the walk, Santa Paula resident and cancer survivor Amy Dilbeck led participants in a “celebration of hope” speech during which lights in the stadium were lowered, Brand-Matthews said.
“It was a very moving testimonial to her struggle and the hope,” Brand-Matthews said.
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