Rain Doesn't Damper Spirits of Relay For Life Participants

Despite a steady rain that fell throughout Saturday morning, the Carmichael Relay For Life event benefitting cancer research went on as planned at .

The event, which began at about 9 a.m. Saturday and went until 9 a.m. Sunday, is a 24-hour gathering where teams of people camp out and take turns walking or running around a track or path to raise money for cancer research.

"It's important because, if not for events like this, I wouldn't be here," said Janet Lemere, a survivor of cervical cancer.

The Relay event, which is held in communities nationwide, began with an opening ceremony and an opening lap for 10 area cancer survivors.

It was the 66th Relay event that Fair Oaks resident Rich Hale said he has participated in for the past five years, or about 1,600 miles he said he has walked.

"I had skin cancer but I walk for my mother (Sharon) who passed away three years ago... from colon cancer," said Hale, adding that his sister Nancy Bishop is also a survivor of thyroid and skin cancer. "It gives us a chance to talk to people who have had cancer; they're lovely people who are giving their all."

Thie year's Carmichael Relay was the 6th annual event in Carmichael and the second at Churchill after previously having been held at Carmichael Park, said event chairwoman Amber Madsen.

Madsen said she got involved  after her boyfriend Adam Moshofsky was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

"It was something very surprising in our lives," Madsen said, adding that she took a caregiver role while also working as a teacher in the Twin Rivers Unified School District. "We had to travel to Indiana for treatment but the American Cancer Society was there and he's a survivor now."

Despite the forecast for wet weather, there was no doubt the Relay would go on as planned, Madsen said.

"Cancer survivors have to go through a lot so why can't we put up with the rain," she said. "But participation is down; we had some teams drop out and we expect less people to stay overnight."

A luminaria ceremony was set to be held later Saturday evening where candles are placed in paper bags.

Lori Rodrigues of Fair Oaks is a lung cancer survivor and got choked up in saying what the Relay means to here.

"It honors us (survivors)... and it brings hope," Rodrigues said. "It lets me know that God still lives."

Teams that particpated in the Carmichael Relay included the Rio Americano High School cheer team and the Dressbarn Divas.

A Citrus Heights Relay For Life event is scheduled for next weekend and one may be held in Fair Oaks in August, participants said.

"It's a 24-hour event because cancer doesn't sleep," Lemere said. "It doesn't care if it's raining."