Photo by Malek Mansour
Relay For Life of Baldwin Hills will be returning to the communities of Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Ladera Heights, Leimert Park, View Park, and Windsor Hills on June 25, 9am at the Yvonne B. Burke Athletic Sports Complex Baseball Fields located at 5401 S. Fairfax Ave.(between Stocker & Slauson) Los Angeles, CA 90056. The community is invited to come and join this event created for the fight against cancer.
Relay For Life is a unique 24-hour celebration of cancer survivorship, a tribute to remember those who have lost their battle to cancer, and learn how to fight back against future diagnoses. The event attracts over 1,200 participants strongly committed to the community and the fight against cancer, the nation’s number one health concern. Nearly 50 teams (families, churches, clubs & organizations) and individual supporters will raise funds for the American Cancer Society and take to the track for 24 hours in honor of loved ones, friends and co-workers touched by this disease. The goal is to have at least one member of each team on the track for 24 hours. The event recognizes over 200 cancer survivors.
The Relay For Life of Baldwin Hills serves not just the Crenshaw community but is the premier event for all of South L.A. where the health disparity is the greatest. African-Americans are dying at higher rates due to cancer than other ethnic groups. African-American men are dying at higher rates but have a higher incidence of prostate cancer, which can be prevented by early detection.
There will be entertainment, from R&B groups to jazz, gospel, line-dancing, yoga, exercise and activities for children all day. There will also be medical professionals who will present information in between the entertainment. The event will be catered by Dulan’s on Crenshaw cooking breakfast on site for the cancer survivors after the Survivors Lap. Puerto Nuevo Mexican Restaurant will be providing lunch and Orleans and York will provide dinner which will be served by the L.A. Stentorians Firefighters. Meals and snacks are available for a small donation throughout the event.
At 9pm, the Luminaria ceremony will begin where participants will walk in silence. Nearly 500 decorated bags will be placed around the track, each bag represents someone who lost the battle to cancer, is still battling cancer or is a cancer survivor. For a $10 donation throughout the day at the Luminaria booth, participants can come and decorate their bag or create a message online and relay volunteers will decorate the bag for you at the event.
The community is invited to help create an awareness in the community to help fight against cancer and looking to create a world with more birthdays. This is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser, with 1 out of every 100 people in the nation participating in Relay For Life. To register, volunteer, or donate, please visit www.RelayForLife.org/BaldwinHillsCA or call 1-800-227-2345.
Relay For Life Baldwin Hills needs volunteers and walkers to make sure participants are covering the entire 24 hours. Please bring tents and blankets. Also, please attend the committee meeting on June 16 or June 23 @ 6:30pm at the Ladera Senior & Community Center located at 4750 W. 62nd St., Los Angeles, CA 90056 if you would like to help the day of the event. Make sure to sign up and invite your friends and family.
Like them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Relay-For-Life-of-Baldwin-Hills/131865350188102. For more information, please contact Madeline Wilson, Co-Lead, Relay For Life of Baldwin Hills at [email protected] or (213) 407-1640. You can also contact Troy Green, Community Ambassador, Relay For Life of Baldwin Hills at [email protected] or (323) 353-6635
