PICTURES OF A FUN EVENT
2006 ACS Relay for Life
Corsair Field
Santa Monica College
Rotary Rockets
It was Saturday, July 28, 2006. We had just had a three week heat spell the likes of which had not been experienced here in Santa Monica. On this special day – the heat spell broke, and we had wonderful cool breezes and cloudy skies as we started our 4th annual participation in the ACS Relay for Life at SM College. Rotarians Erik Jorgensborg, June Doy and “Captain Tish” met at 8:30 am to set up camp for the next 24 hours. We raised our official tent and canopy for shelter and shade. The Rotary Banner waived in the breeze announcing to all that Santa Monica’s premier service club would “LEAD THE WAY” for a cure for cancer!
The opening ceremony and survivor’s lap were a sight to see with our own cancer survivor, Nat Trives front and center! As the 24 hour relay began, the Rockets composed of over 25 Rotarians participated in this amazing event. We circled the track always keeping a Rotarian on the field throughout the day and night. As the hours moved along, Rotarians and friends and family joined us to help keep us motivated and energized. We had new Rotarians join us this year – Sally Pai, John Dravillas, Denis Orme and Mitchell Kraus with his trusty camera. Along with Rotaractors, Hilaire and Kimi, Rotarians Iao Katigiri, Rosemary Regalbuto, Jim Westbrook, Jack Gregory and his friend David Pierce, Skip Tisherman Jim Dyer, Grace Chang Braun and husband Ted, we walked miles. And this was only the day crew! By dusk, the team grew, as we were joined by Frank (woof woof) Levac, Alonzo Hill, Monika White and her husband Roger, Robert and Jeanne Segal, Myles Pritchard and family, friends and kids, joined in the fun. Rosemary’s husband Joe came by to cover a few laps around the field and give us some encouragement! There were plenty of activities going on around the field. The survivors had a beautiful tent on the North end – and there were volunteers everywhere helping out with food, drinks, first aid, and cheering the weary walkers as they rounded the track for the umpteenth time. Returning to relay this year was Katherine Pierce who volunteered her massage services to tired Rotarians and charged anyone else $1.00 per minute for those magic hands to sooth tired muscles. Other teams had auctions, games, face painting, sales and any other activity to raise additional funds.
As we moved into evening, we were joined by Dick and Char Lawrence who always bakes fresh homemade Oatmeal Cookies to help keep our energy going. Culver City Rotarian Craig Ferre his wife recent Cancer Survivor Laura Ferre stopped by to support us. At 9:00 pm – we all stopped for the beautiful Luminaria ceremony and to walk a lap in honor of those who have lost the fight. It is one of the most moving times of the event. We raised our glow sticks and the candles were lit all around the track and up into the bleachers. Things began to quiet down, the music stopped blaring and settled into a calmer more peaceful set of songs, and somewhere around midnight the movies began. It is at this point that I must thank Myles and his friend Cam who walked from 8:30 pm until 9:00 am Sunday morning. Myles brought along a team of kids to play soccer and walk through the night. The kids pulled out their sleeping bags, and slept, while Myles set the “parental example” and went the distance. Those must have been some very sore muscles by Sunday!
In the very early hours of the morning, Jillian Alexander, Pat Bofird, Kathy Chang brand new member Anne Whatley and her husband Paul and nephew came by to offer relief to our night owls, Tish, Rosemary, and June, who by then, were very glad to see them. What an amazing club we have! This was truly an example of “Service above self” while we “Lead the Way”!
To all Santa Monica Rotarians – a big THANK YOU! Our club really went the distance this year and where we raised over $4,000.00 last year, this year our club broke all records raising over $14,000.00! We had a great time, became better friends, and made a dent in the fight for the cure! I’m very proud to be a part of this club and of Rotary International!
“Captain Tish”
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