This article was contributed by Chuck Obeso-Bradley with San Benito County Relay for Life.
The books are closed on San Benito County’s main cancer fundraiser, the 2019 Relay For Life, and we now know the results of our fundraising efforts.
The San Benito County Relay for Life cancer fundraiser took place on Aug. 2-3 at the athletic fields of Rancho San Justo Middle School. This was the 20th year that San Benito County has hosted this fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and the first year that the event was held at Rancho San Justo.
By all accounts this was a very successful Relay! The local amount raised to fight cancer this year was $127,223, and expenses (music system, security, canopies, etc.) were only 3% of that amount. So the grand total given to the American Cancer Society was $123,331. over the last 20 years, the San Benito County Relay for Life has raised over $2.7 million to fight cancer, which is a remarkable achievement for our little community!
The motto for Relay for Life is “Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back!” We celebrate those who are winning their fight against this terrible disease; we remember those who have lost their cancer battle; and we fight back by raising money for cancer research and new treatments.
This event could not be as successful if it were not for our generous sponsors: Harvest Hope for a Cure, Pullin’ for a Cure, Oak Hill Ranch, the Pura Family, and Taylor Farms. We are also so grateful to the Hollister School District and Rancho San Justo Middle School for hosing us this year. We hope to continue working with the school district in the future.
Besides the great fundraising work to fight this terrible disease, the Relay for Life event offers cancer patients and their families the opportunity to network with other survivors. Some of the most emotional aspects of the event are the Cancer Survivor Lap and the Luminaria ceremony.
Plans are already underway to organize the 2020 Relay for Life, and you can contact Logistics Chair Chuck Obeso-Bradley at (831) 524-1331 or obesobradley@gmail.com if you would like to be part of the Leadership team for next year.