“Stick a Fork in Cancer!” Proclaimed Relay for Life of Santa Clara from Its New Venue at Franklin Mall

Santa Clara's annual Relay for Life event was held at Franklin Mall on May 10 this year, creating a combination walk and fundraiser.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Santa Clara staged its annual fund and awareness raiser in a new venue—downtown Santa Clara’s Franklin Square Shopping Mall on May 10 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“We wanted to come out into a more public space than Buchser Middle School’s Townsend Field,” explained event leadership team member Tabitha Kappeler-Hurley. “We wanted to change things up.”

Franklin Mall became a tent city as canopied activity booths popped up across the square from Monroe to Franklin Streets. A Community Resource Fair featured fifteen businesses and nonprofits, including the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley HeroGeneration, Cancer CAREpoint and the Bill Wilson Center.

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Around $52,000 has been raised so far toward the goal of $70,000, and donations are still welcome on the Relay website. Be sure to designate Relay for Life of Santa Clara as the recipient.

“Every dollar raised goes to fight cancer,” said Sunnyvale resident Jonathan Oh, heading the event team for a third year. A $5,000 grant from the City of Santa Clara and contributions from sponsors covered event costs.

Oh shared the story of why he volunteers with Relay for Life.

Oh’s late father-in-law—like a second dad to him—was diagnosed with stage-three lung cancer about two decades ago. He went from being a vibrant man to someone whose will to live was destroyed by pain.

“I wanted to make my story about making a difference,” said Oh. “I know what it means to go through this. I help because I can. We’re here so people can have more birthdays.”

Instead of doing laps around the track at Townsend Field to raise money, as in past years, Relay teams did laps around the mall or went on a scavenger hunt. Walkers’ hunt maps were stamped by participating businesses, qualifying walkers for drawing prizes.

Santa Claran Bob Jensen was on the Northern California Rebel Legion Endor Base relay team, a Star Wars costuming fan club dedicated to fundraising for charities.

“Franklin Mall has a community feel,” said Jensen, dressed in a long robe as the character Barriss Offee. “We’re charitable people having fun costuming,”

“I keep coming back to volunteer because this event is so important for survivors and for family caregivers like me,” said Ferheen Abbasi, on track to graduate from the UC Davis School of Medicine next year. “I want to help survivors know there are people who truly care.”

It was not just a new location for Relay.

Relay supporters were invited to “Stick a Fork in Cancer” by dining at participating restaurants—Jasmine Fine Thai Cuisine, Jiaren Café, Mio Vicino, Mountain Mike’s Pizza and Taplands. The restaurants donated 15 or 20 percent of proceeds to the Relay.

Silent auction gift baskets topped tables along the mall walkways. Performers from the DeAnza Music & Volunteering Association entertained. Students from local schools set out hand-decorated luminaria bags to honor survivors and remember loved ones lost to cancer.

“It’s important for people who suffer from cancer to get all the support they need and have the best resources,” said student Margaret Richards from Santa Clara, volunteering with her friend Sara Levasseur.

Since the death of her friend Jon Canfield in 2011, Cheryl Royer from Castro Valley has participated in multiple Bay Area Relays, not limiting herself to one a year. Walk with Royer at the Relay for Life of Campbell July 12-13 and of Greater San Jose on Sept. 20.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life, which started in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington, is celebrating its 40th anniversary of uniting communities to fight cancer this year.