{"id":370260,"date":"2026-06-22T15:26:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/370260\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T15:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:26:11","slug":"community-rallies-to-celebrate-survivors-and-honor-loved-ones-at-jonathan-jaques-childrens-cancer-institutes-olympic-style-torch-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/370260\/","title":{"rendered":"Community rallies to celebrate survivors and honor loved ones at Jonathan Jaques Children\u2019s Cancer Institute\u2019s Olympic-Style Torch Run"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, June 13, hundreds of children with cancer and serious blood disorders, along with survivors and families honoring loved ones, participated in the 39th annual Champions Run for Life \u201cTorch Run.\u201d<\/a>The event raised funds to support expanded treatment programs and research at the Jonathan Jaques Children\u2019s Cancer Institute<\/a> at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Participants triumphantly carried an Olympic-style torch, a symbol of hope for a cure, during an inspiring relay around Long Beach\u2019s iconic Lions Lighthouse for Sight at Shoreline Aquatic Park. Sponsors, community supporters and volunteers lined the waterfront, cheering as each child, survivor and family were announced. Whether running, walking or wheeling along the course, participants were met with waves of applause, creating a heartwarming atmosphere of camaraderie and hope.<\/p>\n

\"\"Surrounded by colorful banners, signs and orange clappers, Nathen\u2019s family runs in support of the teen, who is undergoing cancer treatment at the Jonathan Jaques Children\u2019s Cancer Institute, during the 39th annual Champions Run for Life \u201cTorch Run.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here at our third Champions Run for Life \u2018Torch Run\u2019 celebrating my 6-year-old daughter, Kataleya, who is two years in remission from Ewing sarcoma,\u201d said Ashley Suazo. \u201cKataleya just graduated kindergarten and is heading to first grade. She\u2019s healthy, she gets to be with her friends, and that is such a blessing. We are so thankful to the physicians at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital for her healing, and for hosting events like this to honor children in treatment, in remission and those we have lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day highlighted countless personal milestones \u2014 from former patients celebrating 17 years in remission to current patients marking treatment progress, to families honoring loved ones. Each participant led their team of supporters proudly, waving posters and banners, with many dressed in vibrant attire. Following the relay, families gathered for a festive picnic and carnival by the ocean.<\/p>\n

\"\"Braelynne, 14, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 2-months-old, spends her 14th year with Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s at the 39th annual Champion\u2019s Run for Life \u201cTorch Run\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the Jonathan Jaques Children\u2019s Cancer Institute, we celebrate our champions every day, but this event allows us to come together with families and care teams in a truly special way,\u201d said Annie Santos, program director, Jonathan Jaques Children\u2019s Cancer Institute, Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital. \u201cChampions Run for Life \u2018Torch Run\u2019 is our signature fundraising event, and every participant helps provide critical support for our patient programs and family-centered care.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jonathan Jaques Children\u2019s Cancer Institute at Miller Children\u2019s & Women\u2019s Hospital provides comprehensive, compassionate care for children with cancer, sickle cell disease and other serious blood disorders. Funds raised through the Champions Run for Life \u201cTorch Run\u201d support a range of psychosocial care<\/a>, including the School Reintegration Program<\/a> and Art Therapy<\/a>, which are integrated into care to help children and families navigate every stage of the cancer journey.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Romero family carries a photo with angel wings in memory of 15-year-old Rafael Jr. Romero, who passed away in April 2023, during the Champions Run for Life.
\n\"\"The Suazo family runs with 6-year-old Kataleya, who is in remission from Ewing sarcoma, a soft tissue cancer, celebrating her recent kindergarten graduation and upcoming first-grade year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On Saturday, June 13, hundreds of children with cancer and serious blood disorders, along with survivors and families…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":370261,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[131,133,132],"class_list":["post-370260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=370260"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370260\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/370261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}