PLEASANT HILL – Cow print, tractors, and cowboy hats, along with running shoes, shorts, and various team shirts, decorated Pleasant Hill High School’s new turf field on Saturday for the Eugene-Springfield Relay For Life. The American Cancer Society (ACS) held its signature fundraiser, the Cancer Walk, from noon until 10 p.m.
Keeping in line with Pleasant Hill’s agricultural landscape, the theme for this year’s RFL was “Plowin’ Down Cancer.” Around 800 folks walked laps, worked booths, and tried to stay cool in the late August heat.
Hundreds of people walked laps in solidarity to show support for cancer at the Relay For Life. BOB WILLIAMS / THE CHRONICLE
Kaylin Salladay, one of the five executive chair holders of the event, led the opening ceremony onstage with the other four members: Tianna Harris, Amber Stutzman, Jon Smith, and Colleen Smith.
Fitting with the theme, Brooke Hilderbrand Furlong had her wheelchair decorated as a classic John Deere tractor. Furlong’s sister-in-law, Stephanie Furlong, said she and her daughters took about two days to complete the handmade setup. The team walked in support of Furlong, as she has been battling breast cancer for nine years. “Not Fast, Just Furious” was their team name for the relay.
Free, cold water was stationed in various spots around the field. Some people had paper fans on hand or opted for battery-operated ones, some even with misters, to stay cool. The Cavender family traveled from their cool home in Olympia, Washington, to participate in the race.
“My wife died last year with pancreatic cancer, one year from today, so we drove down. She was born and raised in Eugene, so that’s why we’re here,” said Dave Cavender.
According to ACS, pancreatic cancer makes up about 3% of cancers in the U.S. and around 8% of cancer deaths. Projections for 2025 reveal that about 67,440 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed, and nearly 52,000 will die from pancreatic cancer.
“This event happened to happen on the exact anniversary of her passing. We got to be here just for this,” said daughter Miranda Cavender. Even fur baby Mila, at the hands of Cavender’s sister Reisa Shale, made the trip down to show support and make laps around the track.
As the sun set, luminaria bags were light in remembrance of every life touched by cancer.
Folks gathered around the start of the track for the official first lap, which took place a little before 1 p.m.
Activities and ceremonial events continued throughout the rest of the day. The luminaria ceremony took place later in the evening at sunset and drew people back to the track to take laps in solidarity.
