Survivors the celebrities at ACS Relay
for Life, Saturday/Sunday at Isbell

Every event has to have a celebrity and at the 14th Annual American Cancer Society Santa Paula Relay for Life there will be many — and they all kicked cancer’s butt!

Starting Saturday, April 25 at 10 a.m. Santa Paula Relay for Life (RFL) will step onto the track at Isbell Middle School on East Harvard Boulvard/4th Street where for the next 24 hours those in the cancer fight, whether those with the disease, have lost loved ones to the disease or are Survivors, will run, walk and stroll.

One of the most popular events in Santa Paula, local supporters of Relay for Life have been the highest fundraiser per capita for the America Cancer Society;  John Marquez and Gwen Harrod are the co-chairs of this 14th annual event.

This year there will be a special breakfast for Survivors who kick off the Relay by being the first on the track, proudly holding the Survivors’ banner including Supervisor Kathy Long, herself a Survivor.

According to RFL Survivor Chair Netti Farrar, there will be a Survivor Breakfast at 9 a.m. 

The opening ceremony at 10 a.m. will feature remarks by Frida Friend, a long time Santa Paula Unified School District administrator who is also a Survivor.

“Frida will give a short inspirational talk,” followed, said Farrar by members of the Santa Paula Police and Santa Paula Fire departments who will present medals to all Survivors.

“We call this ‘Hero to Hero’ because both groups are heroes in our eyes,” and then Survivors will official open RFL by completing the first lap of the day.  

“We honor survivors for their courage, strength and victory over cancer,” as well as their example to others that cancer can be beat but it takes research and services to catch cancer early or prevention measures to lessen the risk.