Cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, and Relay for Life is an event to celebrate, remember, and fight back. More than a thousand people from all over the island of Oahu participated in the Relay for Life 2013 at the Kahuku District Park all through Friday night until 6 a.m. Saturday. “This is a worldwide fund raiser to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The objective is to raise as much money as we can to help with cancer research and many other programs” said Don Porter, Relay for Life of Ko’Oaluloa event chair. “This is a really great cause that helps families and individuals from cancer research to making wigs for cancer patients… or gas cards to help patients get to their treatments…. Everyone has a reason for doing this. I lost my wife to cancer... This is an overnight event and a very symbolic way of making the statement that ‘cancer never sleeps’. I encourage everyone to visit relayforlife.org for more information.” BYUHSA and students represented BYU-Hawaii as they gathered with Ko’olauloa and the North Shore community members to fight cancer. “I am here supporting patients with cancer,” said Kesa Kaufusi, a volunteer for BYUHSA from Tonga. “My uncle passed away from cancer, and I am here with BYUHSA to represent our school and support cancer patients and cancer survivors….We encourage students to come out to support and help raise money. We have garage sales, and today we have a tent set up to paint nails, paint faces play volleyball and all the money collected will be donated.” This lively event went on overnight as the community rallied together to support the cause with fun-filled games, dancing, and prizes. “We have all kinds of wonderful things here tonight for people that have survived cancer,” said Rene Curtis from the Kahuku community. “Whole families come together and they sign up as a team to play games and win prizes. Everyone who comes to participate pays a registration fee to camp out over night and all the activities help raise money. All proceeds goes to the American Cancer Society. This is an all charity event.” The Polynesian Cultural Center presented all night long as an official sponsor. “This is our fifth year representing PCC,” said Jimmy Napu. “So many people are affected by cancer. We want to give back. This year our goal is to raise $3,000. That is besides the money that the PCC gives as an officialsponsor. What we are doing tonight is what employees of PCC put together to raise money. We have 150 in our team.” Turtle Bay employees also represented as they walked laps all night. “I am personally here because both of my parents are cancer survivors,” said Mona Inoz, an employee of Turtle Bay. “We are here representing Turtle Bay and our goal is to raise cancer awareness and get more involved with the community.” Another participant who came with a group from work was Shy Ako, a Kaneohe community member. “Our company, who participates yearly, and our boss got us all together to walk all night long for a good cause. One of the group members on our team is a cancer survivor. She is a strong woman.” Martha Newman, is a caretaker for a cancer survivor and is from the Honolulu. “I want to encourage more people to come out to this event that is held yearly, I have been a participant every year,” she said.
Writer: Jennifer Herrera~Multimedia Journalist
