Relay for Life sends messages of support, remembrance

HANAPEPE — Hundreds of people from around the island rallied Saturday night for the Relay for Life at the Hanapepe Stadium soccer fields.

The American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, chaired by Millie Curtis, pulled community members together to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones who lost the fight, and bring awareness of the disease.

“Everyone is affected by cancer,” said one walker who never broke stride around the circle of luminaria dedicated to individuals who died from cancer. “You may not have cancer, but everyone knows someone who has been affected by the disease.”

Another walker said attending the Relay for Life is an eye-opening experience.

“You can walk all over town and see these people, but when you see them at the Relay, it takes on a different meaning,” she said while chatting at the West Kaua‘i Hongwanji Mission tent. “I don’t belong to this church, but I’m walking because my husband died from cancer. I watch the Survivors Lap, and when you see them, you cannot help but cry.”

The Relay is set up in three phases, opening with the Survivors Lap, the remembrance of loved ones through the Luminaria Ceremony, and then a pledge to fight back as the sun rises on the disease that never sleeps.

The evening is punctuated with entertainment — some dedicated to the American Cancer Society, others talking about how cancer affected them. The outpouring of support is contagious.

“We have four Girl Scouts from Troop 950 who are here helping,” said Patty Ka‘iakapu. “They’re not only helping here, but decided they would send $250 of their Girl Scout cookie money to help the victims of the March 11 Japan disaster, and another $250 to help victims of the recent tornadoes in America.”

Ka‘iakapu said the Girl Scout Troop has dwindled to just four girls — Holly Ka‘iakapu, Jasmine Ikeda, Mahea Hurd and Nicole Ogawa — but they want to challenge other groups to match their contributions and efforts helping others.

The scouts were taking time out of their tasks to pet the mascot for the upcoming Bark for Life, a first-time event where people and their canine companions can help fight cancer.

“Cancer takes our loved ones, both four-legged and two-legged, away from us far too soon,” Ricko Rask, organizer of the Bark for Life, said. “This way, our best dog friends and their families can fight back.”

That walk starts at 7:30 a.m., June 12, at Kaua‘i Community College. Registration can be done by visiting www.RelayforLife.org/backkauaihi in the same way people registered for the Relay for Life.

The Relay for Life website became a means for friendly competition in fundraising as throughout the campaign, the Holy Cross Church and the Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission battled for the honor of being top fundraiser.

Saturday night, both churches had their respective tents set up along the path, the Holy Cross group offering foodstuff in exchange for donations like many of the other groups.

“We’ll wait until the sun rises to see where everything ends,” Maryann Manintin, the culinary guru, said. “Next year, we’ll try even harder.”

A group of friends called The Stompers walked in support of 8-year-old Kaimani Dreyer, who was unable to join his soccer teammates because he was in Houston, Texas.

The Stompers pointed to one of several stuffed animals hanging at the front of their tent.

“When Kaimani was diagnosed with cancer, we sent him a rhino and told him ‘the rhino has tough skin and he has to be like the rhino’s skin — be tough,’” one of The Stompers said while watching another get a shaved head in support of the young boy. “He’s had the rhino with him through all of his treatments, and we wish he was here with us.”

Visit www.RelayforLife.org/kauaihi for more information.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.