(June 14, 2007) — Driving up New York Avenue on Saturday morning May 19, purple and white banners surrounded the student parking lot with big, bold letters that read, “Relay for Life.” The 7 th annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life commenced with three speakers sharing their words with the 25 community teams and their supporters who participated in the event. Clark, which also had a team headed by Senior Anahid Yadjian and teacher Carol Pettegrew, had approximately 25 members who organized and raised over $1000 through donations within a week. One of the speakers, Glendale City Council member John Drayman, bowed his head solemnly as he told the story about his prime inspiration—his mother who fought cancer. The event which lasted from May 19 to Sunday morning May 20 attracted an estimated 500 people from the surrounding Foothill region. Relay for Life has been held at Crescenta Valley High School for the last six years. However, after the school’s field was replaced, the head committee who organizes this event unanimously agreed to hold it at Clark instead. Chris Waldheim, who has been head chairman for two years, was very pleased about the new location. Last year, people had to bring their tents and stands closer to each other because everything was too spread out. There was no need to re-size anything this year because the field is smaller. In addition to the convenient location and parking lot space, the green grass that people walked on made Clark’s field more favorable than Crescenta Valley’s field. “As long as Mr. Dall and Mrs. Melone allow us, we would like to continue holding this function here,” Waldheim said. The rally had various mini-events at scheduled times ranging from the Survivors’ Lap to the Luminaria Ceremony when team members bought candles and decorated the candle holders which were dedicated to friends and family members who died from or are currently fighting cancer. Junior Samantha Fitzmorris bought two. “I dedicated one to my grandfather and the other to my best friend’s mother who both died from cancer,” she said. The Relay for Life was not just a fundraiser to help raise money for cancer research, education and advocacy. It was also a time for survivors to reminisce on those difficult times, for friends and families to remember their loved ones, and for community members to spread hope to those who are fighting it. English teacher Carol Pettegrew, who is also a cancer survivor, said, “Once you experienced it, cancer is no longer a fear but a part of you.”