Goodfellow teams participate in Relay for Life

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Edwards
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
The American Cancer Society hosted Relay for Life at the Angelo State University track and field May 17, 7 p.m. and continued until May 18, 7 a.m.

One hundred and one teams, consisting of 1,305 volunteers, participated in the event. The teams competed a total of 6,418 laps around the track.

Team Goodfellow had 23 teams with a total of 242 participants at the event.

"This was my first Relay for Life," said Airman 1st Class Victoria Ward, 17th Medical Operations Squadron Dental Health technician. "I wanted to come volunteer my time and see what this event was like."

During the relay, the event planners hosted events such as a 5k race, a three-legged race and luminaria ceremony, where family members and friends honored those with cancer.

"Let each step be a memory of the past, a celebration of today, and a step forward as we find a cure," said Julia Valles, luminaria event chairwoman.

During the luminaria ceremony, volunteers turned on lights inside of paper bags containing prayers and cancer patient names. Once the volunteers lit the lights, the event planners invited everyone to walk a lap together.

After the event Saturday, the Relay for Life committee announced the teams raised more than $238,000, to fight cancer. Team Goofellow helped by raising more than $19,000.

"I'm glad I went to the event," said Ward. "I look forward to going to another relay in the future."