They came to lift up loved ones battling cancer and to remember those whose lives have been lost to the disease.
A total of 46 teams participated in this weekend's Relay for Life Walnut. They took to the track at Mt. SAC's Hilmer Lodge Stadium for the 24-hour event to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society.
Saturday night's event included the Luminaria Ceremony. Before the night-time ceremony, decorated white paper bags, each containing a light, were place around the track.
A video tribute to those with cancer and loved ones no longer here played on a screen. Walnut High School's choir sang and caregivers for those with cancer gave testimonials that moved some to tears.
Valerie Sepulveda spoke as a caregiver to her sisters, Terry, who died of cancer, and Lydia, an eight-year survivor.
Terry formed the Fighters Against Cancer team four years ago and her family has vowed to keep it going in her honor, Sepulveda said.
"She fought her cancer for three years and during those three years, she showed us a lot of hope," Sepulveda said.
Jason Adauto, a Walnut High graduate, spoke about his relationship with best friend Michael Miyamoto.
Miyamoto died in November after an 11-year battle with leukemia. The teen has been honored by the city of Walnut and Adauto, along with other friends, have formed the MTM Band in tribute to Miyamoto. The group performed at the Walnut Relay.
Adauto said the community and friends rallied around his friend, raising awareness through bone marrow drives and visiting him in the hospital.
"Michael has taught us how to live life in the best way possible," he said. "I give so much credit to the Miyamoto family for holding together and staying strong through Michael's entire battle."
The ceremony was capped off with the crowd taking a lap around the track, with some stopping to look at bags made in tribute to their family members and friends.
Wai-Ling Wu, one of the event's chairs, said getting teams to participate was slow going at first but gained steam as the event got closer. More than 500 participants registered for this year's Relay, she added.
Wu, 24, graduated from Diamond Bar High School and has been involved with Relay for Life as a volunteer since her sophomore year. She said her mother is a breast cancer survivor, one of the reasons why she has become more connected to the fundraising effort.
"I think a lot of high school kids come in like I did, as a volunteer," she said. "They see it as another volunteer opportunity. Once they meet a survivor or a caregiver, they see what it's all about."
Organizers set their fundraising goal high this year at $100,000. They have raised around $56,000 but expect that to go up as donations are still coming in, she said.
The most up-to-date tally on the Relay for Life Walnut website has the total at $61,234, but that is subject to change.
Richie Han, who chaired the event with Wu, graduated from Walnut High and said he got involved with Relay for Life sort of by chance. He was at the event in 2010 when he ran into then chair Cindy Ruiz. Ruiz was saying that she needed help with something and Han said he volunteered to assist.
The 25-year-old served on the committee in 2011, 2012, and this year.
"The most challenging thing is getting people motivated and making them feel appreciated," he said of planning the event.
The importance of the event is in its purpose, he said.
"It's important because it builds a bigger community," he said. "Fighting against cancer is a cause I don't think anyone would not want to participate in."
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