BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — For 35 years, Bakersfield’s Relay for Life has brought thousands of people together for a full day of walking, fundraising and support in the fight against cancer.
The American Cancer Society event is a 24-hour walk around a track, raising money while honoring survivors, remembering those who have died and rallying the community around the goal of ending cancer.
“We are here for three reasons. We are here to celebrate. We are here to remember and to fight back, we are celebrating our survivors and our caregivers. We are remembering those we’ve lost to cancer and we fight back by raising critical funds to get rid of cancer,” said Tina Carmona.
Organizers said Bakersfield’s Relay for Life is the largest in the state and the sixth largest in the nation, drawing participants year after year.
Along the track, the atmosphere mixes emotion and encouragement, with participants offering comfort through all stages of the cancer battle.
“We come because no one should hear the words you have cancer and certainly no one should bury a loved one because of cancer. So we keep coming because we want to find those treatments we want to find those cures,” Carmona said.
Even with the serious mission, the mood remains upbeat as teams cheer, celebrate and lift each other up, reinforcing the message that no one fights alone.
“We have a great community. We’ve got a community that we love our neighbors and we show up for our neighbors. So when we see somebody who is hurting we’re out there to help,” Carmona said.
Asked what she would tell both longtime participants and those attending for the first time, Carmona said, “This is a club nobody wants to be a part of but once you are you’re not going to find a better family.”