Community Corner

Diamond Bar Rallies for Cancer Research

Those battling cancer, survivors, and supporters of finding a cure gathered Saturday at Lorbeer Middle School for the annual Relay for Life Diamond Bar.

The 24-hour event serves as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The relay also offers a chance for the community to "celebrate, remember, and fight back," which was the message organizers of the Diamond Bar event emphasized Saturday.

This year's Relay had a Hawaiian theme, with dancers in colorful costumes wearing flower leis and swaying their hips to acoustic songs played on a ukulele. One of the dancers twirled a baton of fire to the "oohs" and "ahhs" of the crowd.

Kawika Viloria, who owns Da Hula Studio in Diamond Bar, said he has been participating in Relay for Life for several years.  The push for a cure for cancer is close to his heart because Viloria, who has been in Diamond Bar for 20 years, is an 8-year kidney cancer survivor.

"It just brings awareness," he said of Relay for Life. "It's unfortunate that people don't get involved until someone close to them has the disease."

Viloria would like to see all people get involved, whether they have been touched by cancer or not, he said.

During an emotional luminaria ceremony Saturday night, attendees watched a slideshow featuring photos of cancer survivors, those battling the disease, and others who have died.  Viloria was featured as a cancer survivor on the slideshow, as was Diamond Bar Mayor Jack Tanaka.

Participants took a lap around the track to honor the memory of loved ones.  Illuminated white bags decorated with handwritten messages of encouragement and remembrance lined the path.

Michelle Anderson, who has long been involved with Diamond Bar's Relay, spoke about her daughter Jennifer's fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the immune system.

Anderson said her daughter, who also has been involved with the Relay for Life for several years, was diagnosed June 6, 2006 at age 16. 

Her symptoms started with a cold that wouldn't go away and swelling on her neck, Anderson said.

One doctor sent Anderson and her daughter to a hematologist, a physician specializing in blood disorders and diseases. Anderson said when she called the hematologist's office and heard the receptionist answer the phone with "cancer center," she thought she had the wrong number at first.

"The shock of hearing your child has cancer is something you don't get over," she said.  "You just don't get over it."

Every three weeks her daughter had chemotherapy. She lost her hair and had to take shots to build up her red cells, Anderson said. Jennifer was in and out of hospitals for six months getting treated. By December of that year, she was considered cancer free, Anderson said.

Now at 23, her daughter remains healthy, is newly engaged, and is "living her life to the fullest," Anderson said.

"I couldn't be more proud of her. All of you are a part of that success story because you're all doing it in your own lives," she said.  "So keep up the fight. We're not over yet."






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