Relay for Life Event Fights 'Disease That Never Sleeps'
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Health&FitnessMOUNTAINVIEWVOICE Sandy Aratow, left, and her daughter Allison will be participating in the 545-mile AIDS/LifeCycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles beginning May 31. MICHELLE LE Mother-daughter team Relay for Life event fights set for AIDS/LifeCycle ‘disease that never sleeps’ SF-to-LA journey raises money, Hundreds take over Cuesta Park to awareness in fight against AIDS raise money in fight against cancer By Casey Weiss in San Francisco on May 31. By Casey Weiss volunteer chairperson, in an e-mail. All of the 2,500 cyclists signed up for Connie Mariottini, of Los Altos, is one of fter her coworker died two years AIDS/LifeCycle must collect pledges of undreds of cancer survivors, their the expected 600 participants coming out ago from AIDS, Sandy Aratow at least $3,000 each. The money helps pay loved ones and other supporters for the Relay. She was a caregiver for her Abiked over 500 miles to Los Ange- for research and inform the public about Hwill take over Cuesta Park for husband, who died from esophageal can- les in his memory. HIV and AIDS. So far, neither Sandy nor 24 hours later this month, keeping a cer, and now heads the “Chemo-Brains” George, who was a physician’s assistant Allison has met the $3,000 minimum — round-the-clock vigil in order to fight team, made up mostly of other caregivers, in San Mateo County, Sandy has around $1,200 “the disease that never sleeps.” families and patients who participate in El died at age 34. His death and Allison has $1,500, Almost 300 participants have signed up Camino Hospital support groups. inspired Sandy, a nurse at and both are still seeking so far for Mountain View’s seventh annual “It’s a reminder that cancer never the same hospital, to sign “If you go in for the donations. Relay for Life beginning Saturday, May 30 sleeps,” Mariottini said of the Relay. up for the AIDS/LifeCycle, The duo once ran a at 10 a.m., joining millions of Americans The Mountain View Fire Depart- a seven-day, 545-mile bike challenge, you come marathon together, but who will walk around tracks and parks ment has also organized a team of 22 ride from San Francisco to Allison, a teacher in San this spring for 24 hours straight to raise firefighters, the largest to sign up so far, Los Angeles. out for the cause.” Jose, said she has never money for cancer awareness and research. according to Kasser. Jenna Graham, the “Everyone loved him SANDY ARATOW biked this far before. Organizers say they are still expecting captain of the team, said the disease hits at the hospital,” Sandy After work she rides 20 hundreds more people to register for the home for many of the firefighters, many said of George. “He was to 30 miles on the Los local Relay. of whose colleagues or relatives have had a wonderful health care Gatos trail, and meets Participants come out in teams for the the disease. There is a higher occurrence worker.” up with her mom on the fundraiser, which is organized by the of cancer in firefighters than in the gen- Now that she has participated in the weekends to practice. American Cancer Society, and at least eral population, Graham said. fundraiser once, Sandy said she “can’t Last year, she said, she was so touched one team member is always on the track. “No one is immune to cancer,” she imagine not doing it.” This year her by the camaraderie she witnessed that The Mountain View Relay currently has said. “It can get anyone at any time.” daughter, Allison Aratow, 25, is joining she decided to join the cause. 47 teams of survivors, caregivers and The Relay has several special events just her for the ride. The two are now rid- “It was empowering to watch everyone supporters, and together they have raised for “survivors,” including the first lap of ing over 100 miles on the weekends in $25,600 with “new donations coming preparation for the event, which starts See AIDS/LIFECYCLE, page 24 in hourly,” said Jill Kasser, the publicity See RELAY FOR LIFE, page 24 MAY 8, 2009 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ 21 FREE SKIN CANCER SCREENING SATURDAY, MAY 16, 9 am–3 pm REGISTRATION REQUIRED — CALL TODAY! CANCER CRUSADERS. COUNT ON US FOR Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, and despite the increased use of sunscreen, incidence is on the rise. But nearly all skin cancers can be successfully treated and cured when SKIN CANCER EXPERTISE caught early. You can count on the Cancer Center at El Camino Hospital for expert help, from THAT’S MORE THAN prevention to detection to treatment, should it be necessary. 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