Cancer Support Group Raises $125K

The (CSC-RB) raised more than $125,000 to help fund support programs for cancer patients and their families at the 15th annual Celebrate Wellness event at the South Cost Botanic Gardens on Sunday.

More than 500 people attended the event and sampled wines, beer, chocolates, food and even sodas from local businesses, including Redondo Beach businesses and .

The fare from many of the booths was so popular that nearly all of them ran out of food.

"People just started taking [the desserts]," said Mike Tinajero from Lisa's Bon Appetit.

Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, who represents the 53rd District in the state Assembly, attended for the first time this year.

"It's lovely," she said. "It's a perfect day."

The event also featured both a silent and a live auction, as well as a performance of the song "Brightest Star" by two members of the Australian rock band Juke Kartel.

Toby Rand, the lead singer, said the song was written as a tribute to the band's drummer's mother who had breast cancer.

Nine-year-old Cody Esphorst, a cancer survivor, was recognized by Steve Napolitano, a field deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, with a special proclamation. Cody also presented CSC-RB with a jar of $300 he raised himself.

CSC-RB was formerly known as the Wellness Community.