House Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard is the keynote speaker at this weekend’s Relay for Life event. Garcia Richard shares a personal story with those gathered at Ashley Pond Park of Carmel Garcia, who became her surrogate mother following the death of her own mother when Garcia Richard was in college. Rep. Garcia Richard’s mother and Carmel Garcia were close friends. Garcia founded a domestic violence shelter, was an advocate for social justice and generally always pushed to make life better for others. Rep. Garcia Richard told the crowd that her surrogate mother died last year from breast cancer after battling the disease since 2000. Courtesy photo

Cancer survivors, friends and family members march around Ashley Pond this weekend during the annual Relay For Life event. Courtesy photo

LAMC’s Mary Beth Maassen is one of this year’s organizars of the annual Relay For Life event. Courtesy photo

Luminarias placed around Ashley Pond honor loved ones during this weekend’s Relay for Life event at Ashley Pond Park. Courtesy photo