Entertainers of all ilks sought for ACS Santa Paula Relay for
Life

Entertainers of all ilks are sought for the 24-hour round-the-clock American Cancer Society Relay for Life, one of Santa Paula’s most successful fundraisers being held April 25 and 26 at Isbell Middle School.

Lucy Vega is the entertainment coordinator for the local event, which is expected to draw hundreds of people and dozens of teams that will keep the track filled with tag team runners, walkers, strollers and others committed to keep going because cancer never sleeps.

The world’s largest and most impactful fundraising event to end cancer, Relay for Life unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all. Today, with the support of thousands of volunteers the American Cancer Society is helping to save more than 400 lives a day. 

And Relayers won’t stop until they finish the lap … the event starts with the Survivor’s Lap at 10 a.m., the kickoff of those who have fought the cancer battle and won for the event’s activities that includes music, entertainment, food, fun and plenty of determination.

When night falls there is the poignant Luminaria Tribute ceremony with hundreds of bags displaying the names of survivors and those who are still battling cancer as well as sweet memories of those loved ones lost to the disease.

Vega knows about cancer as a member of the legendary Castro Family & Friends Fighting Cancer team.

“A lot of my family knows cancer,” with several lost to the disease and others in the battle including the long haul as Vega has an aunt who has been cancer free for “oh, 30 to 40 years … and my mother is now cancer free.”

Vega said although she’s been involved in the Relay “For quite a few years as a team captain or co-captain, I really wanted to make more of a difference,” so she got involved in the wider event planning.

“It’s a challenge,” she noted, “but I’m willing to give it a shot!”