24 hours of walking gets emotional kickoff.
[view:node_ad=5]This morning at Central Park, a large section of grass was filled with tents, booths, and people. All aspects of this year’s Relay for Life were in full bloom, as teams of walkers prepared to enter a 24 hour marathon to help fight cancer.

Relay for Life consists of teams of individuals who garner sponsorships to walk around a track hour after hour, from 9:30 a.m. Saturday to 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Team members take turns in the heat of the day, and the wee hours of the morning. This is meant to reflect the idea that “cancer never sleeps.”

Before the walking began, inspirational stories of cancer patients and survivors were shared with the crowd, and brought tears to the eyes of some.

Santa Clarita’s Relay for Life is part of a nationwide event benefiting the American Cancer Society, although the SCV event is the largest in Los Angeles County.  This year, our local event hoped to raise $500,000.

To see more pictures from Relay for Life, click here!