Scenes From 2015 Relay For Life Event At Ashley Pond

The Hillstompers lead cancer survivors in a lap around Ashley Pond Friday night as part of the opening ceremony for this year’s Relay for Life. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Medical Center CEO Feliciano Jiron, lef, and Communications Manager Manuel Luna of the Great Western Division of the American Cancer Society welcome the crowd to the 2015 Relay for Life event Friday at Ashley Pond Park. LAMC was one of the major sponsors and organizers for this year’s event. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

 

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post

The Los Alamos Relay for Life had a rockin’ start Friday night at Ashley Pond Park.

In addition to live music provided by Igor and the Red Elvises, the Hill Stompers and Los Alamos High School Marching Band, there were silent auctions, a cancer survivors’ walk and dinner and a luminaria lighting  ceremony to honor those affected by cancer. The event’s good groove was even more enhanced due to the fact that the number of teams and money raised for the American Cancer Society continually increased.

Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) Community Relations and Patient Advocate Mary Beth Maassen told the Los Alamos Daily Post Friday that 16 teams registered but more were coming in. The event had raised $18,000 as of Friday and the hope was to raise $25,000, she said.

“I’m really thrilled with how people have come through on the fundraising end,” Maassen said. “We’ve been a sponsor every year since its inception, but it’s the first time the hospital has taken the lead in organizing it.”

Many other community entities pitched in to make the event a success. Gillian Sutton of KRSN 1490AM coordinated the silent auctions, which included a variety of hand-decorated bird houses. As prizes, Classic Air Medical donated a heli flight and lunch with the crew and the Los Alamos Fire Department offered a personal tour of a fire station and lunch with Chief Troy Hughes. Other contributors included the Los Alamos Daily Post, Los Alamos County, Village Arts and Gordon’s Summer Concert Series.

Hilde Fitzgerald, a cancer survivor and long-time Relay for Life participant and supporter said, “This Relay in particular is going to be awesome.”

She added she enjoyed this year’s cancer survivor dinner at Fuller Lodge, which the Blue Window Bistro catered. “We were treated special,” she said.

Relay for Life continued through all night and into Saturday morning at the pond. The Masonic Lodge #66 served breakfast to participants, a zumba fitness class was held and Pet Pangea hosted a dog walk in support of Relay for Life.

Cancer survivors participate in the survivor’s lap around Ashley Pond Friday night. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

From left, Nina Thayer, Nancy Scheer, Gloria Cordova and Ginny White don team floral leis for Relay for Life Friday night at Ashley Pond. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Cancer survivors participate in the survivor’s lap Friday around Ashley Pond. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Jeff Martinez checks out the silent auction items Friday night during Relay for Life. Gillian Sutton of KRSN 1490AM coordinated the silent auction along with the bird house auction. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Susan McCloskey checks out the bird houses up for auction during Relay for Life. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Luminarias spell HOPE during Friday’s Remembrance Ceremony at Relay for Life at Ashley Pond. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Luminarias light the border of Ashley Pond Friday during the Remembrance Ceremony at Ashley Pond. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Luminarias at Friday’s Remembrance Ceremony at Ashley Pond. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Search
LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems