Aug. 12, 2008 — With more than 550 participants, the 2008 Susanville Relay for Life will at least raise as much money as it did in 2007. At closing ceremonies on Sunday, Aug. 3, the relay raised $72,565.04 with more donations expected. The 2007 relay made $87,000.

The relay committee is expecting to get around $20,000 from the 4-H Junior Livestock Auction in the memory of Madeline Hitchings who died last year from breast cancer. Hitchings’ daughter Nicole Pitts participates in the auction.

The relay is also planning on receiving a grant from Wal-Mart.

The relay began at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2 with a Survivor’s Lap around the track at Lassen High School’s Arnold Field. More than 100 cancer survivors walked the first lap as relay walkers cheered.

For 24 hours, members of 48 teams walked because “cancer never sleeps,” — one of the mottos for the American Cancer Society’s signature event.

The 2008 relay theme was Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back. At 10 p.m. on Saturday night, more than 800 luminaries glowed around the track and in the grandstands spelling out the word “cure.” All the lights were turned off and the hundreds of walkers became silent as the names of those who died from cancer, survived cancer or are still battling cancer were read. Once in a while walkers could hear a baby’s cry or the shuffling of feet on the gravel track.

Some of the walkers attempted to walk all 24 hours.

Roses-Save the Tatas, Luau for a Cure and Lockdown for a Cure were the teams to raise the most money. The top individual fundraisers were Rachelle Surian, who raised $2,103.85; Kristin Alford, who raised $1,055 and Tina Bishop, who raised $962.

An addition, this year is the Fight Back Booth, said area relay director for the ACS, Bob Logan. Those attending the relay were encouraged to go make a pledge to do something to fight back against cancer. The pledge could be as simple as promising to eat better.

Teams are already signing up for the 2009 relay. For more information log onto relayforlife.org.