The annual cancer research fundraiser, Relay for Life, held its Alameda event Saturday, July 23 from 1 to 10 p.m. at Jean Sweeney Park. The event was sponsored by the American Red Cross of Alameda County. Proceeds from the event benefit American Cancer Society (ACS).

Relay for Life has been held at various venues, but this was the first time at the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. This location afforded great visibility, with many park visitors joining the walk, pledging donations and purchasing luminaria in memory of past cancer victims. The team had educational materials, sunscreen and lip protection supplies ready for distribution. As the relay concluded, the luminaria lined the traversal path, marked with the names of loved ones.

Alameda Kiwanis Club member Denise Gasti anchored We Walk as One, a team of friends, family and other Kiwanis members. They earned $4,665 to support survivors, current patients and their families: the best effort yet! Their initial goal was $2,000. Other team members included Jennifer Cobb, Roslyn Begun, Laila Grassley and Cheryl Saxton.

We Walk as One accumulated the third highest total. Rising Stars raised the most money, $19,705; while the West End is the Best End team raised $8,800. The five-member Rising Stars team said they participated in the event because they are all survivors and/or have lost friends or family to cancer.

“This is our eighteenth year participating in the ACS Relay for Life,” wrote the team on the Relay for Life website. “We are walking and raising funds for ACS to make a difference in the fight against this disease.”

Overall, event organizers raised more than $63,000. Their goal was to raise $60,000.

Participants took part in themed laps on their walks to make the trek more interesting. The walk began with a Safe-Fun-in-the-Sun Parasol Parade lap where participants held decorative umbrellas. There was also a crazy hats lap where participants wore crazy decorative hats for a portion of the walk. There was also a karaoke contest during the walk.

The next Relay for Life event takes place Saturday, August 6 in Vallejo at St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School. To learn more, visit https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=relay