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Relay for Life brings the Pass together to fight cancer. Beaumont, with its legacy of giving, is a leader in the fight against cancer. On May 3, the city will sponsor a 24- hour Relay For Life fund raiser at the Sports Park. "I would like to invite everyone in the Pass area to take part in this very important event," said Mayor Brenda Knight. "Each of us, in some way, has been touched by this disease." Relay For Life, now a global event, began humbly in 1985 when a surgeon walked and ran for 24 hours in Tacoma, Washington, raising $27,000 for the American Cancer Society. Over the last decade, Relay For Life events in our hometown have raised $1 million for the American Cancer Society. Billions of dollars more have been raised the world over for research. This year's Relay is being dedicated to the late Dorothy Ellis, former Hospital District Board Chair at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, said Specialist Julie Mignogna, Relay For Life, California Division, American Cancer Society, Inc. Eleven years ago, Ellis started the Relay in the Pass area. everYBodY PiTChes iN It's a big job staging a Relay For Life community fund raiser. Teams of walkers, including Beaumont's very own Pink Flamingos, will gather from throughout the region to raise money through pledges and donations. About 45 city employees will take part in this Relay For Life event. The fund raiser is expected to draw hundreds of people who will camp out for 24 hours at the Sports Park. You can cheer them on or take part anytime day or night! As the sponsor of our relay in the San Gorgonio Pass, our hometown provides free use of the 20-acre Sports Park and pays the cost of having police officers and maintenance and ground crews on duty. We supply tables, chairs and trash cans, too. The Relay's portable stage comes from the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District. Heather Harwood, city liaison for Relay For Life in Beaumont, coordinates our hometown's efforts for the 24-hour community fund raiser on May 3. Hundreds are expected to attend the event at the Beaumont Sports Park. Photo courtesy of the city of Beaumont Harwood holds a hand-painted "Hope" stone in recognition of a cancer survivor. During a "Hope" stone painting party, Harwood and her family decorated 250 stones. Photo courtesy of the city of Beaumont oPeNiNg CeremoNY: Sat., May 3 at 9 am. A high-energy kickoff event featuring music and speeches to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer and to inspire hope in others. Cancer survivors will be lined up in front of the stage. survivors laP: Sat.,May 3 at 10 am. Music plays as cancer survivors at the event walk the first lap around the track while others cheer them on and celebrate their victory over the disease. Caregivers are also recognized and celebrated. eNTerTaiNmeNT: Sat., May 3, at 11 am. Live DJ music for 24 hours; other entertainment to be announced. lumiNaria CeremoNY: Sat., May 3 at 8 pm. A time to remember people who have been lost to cancer, to honor those who have fought cancer, and to support others who have cancer. During a candlelight vigil, participants will walk a lap in silence with bagpipe music playing in the background. midNighT madNess: Sun., May 4, from midnight to 4 am. Every hour, a different activity near the stage will keep spirits high into the early morning hours… Don't miss it! fighT BaCk/ClosiNg CeremoNY: Sun., May 4 at 9 am. Participants make a personal commitment to save lives by taking up the fight against cancer. That might involve doing something as simple as being screened, quitting smoking, or donating to the American Cancer Society. Further Information: City Liaison Heather Harwood: hharwood@ ci.beaumont.ca.us; www.relayforlife.org. Sources: The American Cancer Society/City of Beaumont makiNg a PersoNal CommiTmeNT When the opening ceremony starts at 9 am on May 3, Day Camp Supervisor Heather Harwood will be on hand. Over the years, cancer has touched her family, striking the lives of her grandmother, her mother, and her father. This year, Harwood is City Liaison for the Relay For Life event in the Pass. And she and her family have made a personal commitment to recognizing cancer survivors. They held a "Hope Stone" painting party, and when it was all over, they had decorated 250 stones. "My family is tough and they're survivors," said Harwood. "They're my inspiration." Relay for Life of San Gorgonio Pass location: Beaumont Sports Park, southeast corner of Brookside and Beaumont Avenues. Creating a world with more birthdays… one step at a time 6 BEAUMONT NOW | MAY 2014 BEAUMONT NOW | MAY 2014 7

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