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# Event raised nearly $166K for cancer fight
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/event-raised-nearly-166k-for-cancer-fight/
- Published: 2005-07-25T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:31:15.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Events, Santa Monica, #archive-import

night of exercise and mobilization against a common cause. Before registering, participants form teams of 10 to 15.

Starting Saturday, participants circled the Corsair track, sometimes pushing other elderly or ill participants in wheel-chairs, while they listened to musical performers or watched entertainers.

Once performances by musicians, acrobats and willing karaoke singers concluded, and a waning summer moon replaced the sweltering sun, Corsair Field was illuminated by flickering candlelight, which shone on many tear-streaked and solemn faces.

The word “hope” was spelled out in luminaries on Corsair Field bleachers.

Although Relay for Life is largely an upbeat affair, the Luminaria Ceremony is the most somber part of Relay for Life, participants say, because it represents a time to remember all those lost or currently losing the battle with cancer.

“Above all, we need to remember why we’re here,” one Relay for Life committee member said. “It’s an opportunity for many communities to unite behind a common cause.”

Santa Monica College, which has been home to the Relay all four years, has always been a generous contributor, participants said, and many other community groups donate or participate in the event. For example, this year Boy Scout Troop 2 arranged a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage, pancakes and coffee for the participants.

“I’ve been doing this for the past four years, and I do it because I know many cancer survivors,” said Ana María Jara, who took part in the Relay. “I’ve gotten all my friends and family to participate in this great event.”

Although the Relay is not a competition about winning or losing, an awards ceremony was held to congratulate team participants.

At 9 a.m. on Sunday, Relay for Life committee members announced the first place team, the South Bay Fighting Flamingoes, which raised a total of $24,615.53.

The Fighting Flamingoes also took home another prize for most funds raised by an individual team member. Terry Schiel raised more than $11,770.25 this year, and expects to donate an additional $1,000 in the coming days.

This year, the Fighting Flamingoes beat their own record. They raised more than $23,000 in the 2004 Relay for Life.

Coming in second and third place, KPMG of Los Angeles and Earth Angel raised a total of $25,031.

The diversity of team size and representation is only matched by the diversity of experiences among Relay for Life participants and supporters. Despite their differences, cancer survivors, Relay participants and committee members showed pride and unity by wearing purple, white and red American Cancer Society shirts.

All show up to support the fight against cancer and to pay homage to friends and loved ones whom they have lost to cancer.

Relay for Life in Santa Monica, which was spearheaded four years ago by Police Chief James T. Butts Jr., is now run by Santa Monica Police Department Lieutenant Frank Fabrega.

Fabrega first became involved in Relay for Life two years ago, unaware that he would soon be personally affected by cancer. After his diagnosis and nine months after his surgery, Lt. Fabrega was back on his feet and participating in Relay for Life, to which he personally contributed $15,000 that year.

Lt. Fabrega is now an international trainer for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life program. He will soon teach other Relay volunteers in Ireland how to hold a successful Relay for Life event in their community.

After Sunday morning’s commemorative final lap and awards ceremony, Fabrega and other Relay committee members said they still felt energized and inspired.

“We’ll never stop,” Fabrega said, motioning to Corsair Field, which had emptied of participants and supporters. “It’s a 24-hour event; we’ll never rest because cancer never rests.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 25, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/072505.pdf?ref=smdp.com)