This year, there is a new element to the cancer-fighting
walk
Gilroy – Lynn Noto doesn’t walk for a particular person who fought cancer – actually she doesn’t have any close family members who battled the disease. But when she was asked to serve as team captain at last year’s Relay for Life, she jumped at the chance.
“I don’t know why I’m so passionate about it, but I just am,” the Gilroy resident said.
And her enthusiasm obviously paid off. When she was approached last year by the Rotary Club president, there were only two weeks left before the cancer walk/run. Noto was asked to beef up the team but was also informed that it might be too late to accumulate much cash.
“My personality says ‘too late’? It’s never too late,'” she said.
Noto was right, even with such short notice her team managed to place fifth and raise $8,000. This year, as team recruiter, Noto hopes to “raise as much darn money as we can.”
And with help from cancer survivors like Jimmy Sergi and Rob Barham, who get out there, pound the pavement and send out letters, Noto is bound to meet her goal. As the name “Rotary and Friends” implies, anyone, club member or not, is welcome to join.
Although the point of the event is to raise money for cancer research, that so many community members join the walk, shows that numerous people are intent on finding a cure.
“The more people that get on board the faster we’ll find a cure for (a disease) that kills so many,” Noto said.
This year, locals planning to walk or run in the name of cancer, also will be given the chance to sign a banner that will travel to Washington, D.C. and join thousands of other banners.
Dubbed the “Relay for Life Wall of Hope,” participants at every one of the 5,000 event staged across the nation, will write messages of hope and support and sign their names. In Washington the banners will be compiled into one wall and will remain during the American Cancer Society’s two-day event on Capitol Hill.
Afterward all of the banners will be returned. Anyone interested in joining Team Rotary and Friends can contact the following: Lynn Noto at 842-1666 or 422-8573 or team co-chairs, Alma Nino at 710-7764 or 847-1231 or Lorenzo Nino at 847-4032 or 234-9653.
