The Herndon High School track was the venue of a significant victory this weekend, the second annual Herndon "Relay For Life."
Taking a huge step in the fight against cancer, participants helped raise more than $150,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society.
By Saturday afternoon, the school's track was filled with tents and participants getting ready for the 24-hour walk-a-thon.
Beginning with a survivors’ lap and lasting until 7 a.m. the following day, more than 40 teams and 1,000 participants joined together to fight cancer.
Compared to its inaugural year, this year's event had picked up steam.
"This year was a little bit bigger with more people," said Shari True, staff partner and representative from the American Cancer Society. "I think the teams had an even bigger and better time. It was a real reunion."
Team Homer, one of the founding teams, brought with it the largest number of participants — more than 100 members. Like many of the other teams, Homer kicked off the fundraising early in the year to bring more money to the event.
Debby Burt, co-chair "Relay for Life", estimated that the teams had accumulated up to $80,000 before the weekend began.
WITH TEMPERATURES soaring into the nineties on Saturday, participants were careful not to exhaust themselves.
"We're ready for anything," said Capt. Robert Rhoads, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. "People just need to remember to drink while they're walking out here — it's hot and humid."
Rhoads and his crew kept an eye on people on and off the track while participating with their own team.
Once the event got underway, the ability to raise money relied solely on the creativity of the vendor.
Colorful displays and themed tents circled the inside perimeter of the track, enticing walkers to stop and purchase goods.
The "Groovy Girls," a team comprised of 18 members, designed 50 tie-dyed shirts to sell on location. By 3:30 p.m. there were 10 left.
Others chose to take advantage of the heat by selling drinks, water balloons, and popsicles. Services and games ranging from Texas Hold'em to massages were offered and the proceeds donated as a part of the team's earnings.
Throughout the day and into the evening, an array of entertainment provided by the coordinators kept the teams motivated.
Local musical talent Katy Benko, who had her own relay team, performed a set. Other highlights such as a pie-eating contest and a fear-factor tournament filled the time in-between laps around the track.
But it seemed entertainment was not always necessary for motivation.
Most participant’s spirits were high as they kept their eyes on the goal of earning $150,000.
"If we set the goal for $150,000 then I think we will achieve it," said Chris Richter, team leader of the Dranesville United Methodist Church. "The fact that you can come out here, have fun, and do something beneficial — it's the ideal situation."
THE EMOTIONAL PEAK of the relay came in the evening with the Luminaria Ceremony. Luminaries, purchased in honor of cancer victims, lined the inside perimeter of the track. Under the veil of a black sky and with only a solitary voice reading aloud those being honored, each bag was lit until a glowing, orange band soberly encircled the day's earlier festive field.
On the south bleachers the word "Hope" was spelled out in softly glowing light.
As the following morning broke, the results of the earnings were counted to find that the participants had surpassed their goal with a total of $159,130.87.
"I've never worked with a better, more organized group of people," said Chris Lamkin, co-chair of the event. "People last year came back. Once you come the first time, you come back again and know what to do. If you move to another town you start another relay and that's how it spreads."
Planning for next year's event will begin September of this year. Along with the existing relays in the area, a new event, which will be held next weekend, has been added in Vienna.