With brisk winds, warm daytime temperatures and a chill in the air overnight providing the backdrop, the 2026 edition of the Relay For Life Greater Central Valley brought together hundreds of participants in the fight against cancer.
The American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, teams involved in the May 16-17 Relay brought in plenty of donations and sponsorships ahead of time, and along with nearly $30,000 raised on site during the weekend, saw the total top out at over $160,000.
Hosted at Johansen High School in Modesto, the Relay brought teams together from a number of Central Valley communities, including Oakdale, Escalon, Riverbank, Modesto, Turlock, Denair and more.
Opening ceremonies on Saturday morning, May 16 began at 9 a.m. and featured some guest speakers along with a group rendition of the National Anthem. A dove release was then followed by the inaugural Survivor Lap and one for caregivers, prior to the teams putting their representatives on the track as well.
The goal of Relay For Life is to have a member from each team on the track at all times during the 24-hour period, signifying to all participants that “cancer never sleeps.”
There were 51 teams registered this year, with Kaiser Permanente signing on the presenting sponsor.
Helping with the dove release was Maddi Kerlee of Denair, a former teacher and cancer survivor who was new to the event this year, having learned about it at a Survivor Group she attends in Turlock. Also on hand was survivor Rylee Stephens, 6, who opened the basket to set the doves free. Kerlee held one of the doves and released it from her hands just before Rylee opened the basket. Once the doves flew off, the Survivor Lap officially began. Firefighters from Modesto Fire Department were also there to present each survivor with a special medal at the end of their first lap.
“It’s very exciting; I have all my little grandchildren here which has made it exciting and fun,” Kerlee said later in the day Saturday, back at her team’s booth, one of many lining the track at Johansen.
Her Kerlee Cattle team was there for the first time this year as well, but she plans to be back.
“That was very special,” she added of participating in the dove release. “I lost my dad a couple of years ago and we’ve kind of used the dove as our spirit and so, when I did that, it was pretty special.”
Based on the “Fishing For A Cure” theme for the 2026 Relay, a couple of new additions were well received; a fishing clinic taught youngsters the basics of tying a bait on a line and then work on casting; those that registered in advance went home with a free fishing pole.
Officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were also on site with some informational exhibits.
Throughout the day, musical groups took the stage, interspersed with such fun activities as the Ms. Relay contest featuring contestants in drag; the Road to Recovery race with teams putting together their best cardboard vehicles, and several theme laps including Inflatables, Superhero and Tutu laps, along with activities for youngsters at the free Kids Camp area and a classic car show just outside the football stadium.
The evening brought the luminaria ceremony, a midnight movie – Finding Nemo, to go along with the ‘fishing’ theme – scrabble and poker laps, and a newspaper fashion show just before the 6 a.m. karaoke on Sunday.
At the closing ceremonies on Sunday morning, it was announced that the Sutter Health – Gold Together aka Sutter Birthing Brigade team, with team captain Jennifer Ayala, was the Top Fundraising Team at $22,697 and also earned both the Relay For Life and the specialty Nelson Sayre Team Spirit awards.
The Sutter Health team captained by Veronica Edwards was the winner of the Best Campsite Award, voted on by a group of survivors attending the event, not registered on a team.
The local teams and participants have until May 31 to continue fundraising – the effort had raised just over $160,321 by Monday, May 18.
