On the cover of the Magazine is the photo of Nathan Crookston, a cancer survivor and participant in the Santa Clarita Valley’s Relay For Life and Luminaria ceremony.
If you spot glimmers of light while passing by Santa Clarita’s Central Park the first week-end in June, know that those lights carry a rather special significance.
The thousands of lights will be representing people who have passed away from cancer, those currently battling the disease or caregivers for those afflicted with it. It’s all part of a luminaria ceremony of hope event, one aspect of the Santa Clarita Relay For Life on June 2nd and 3rd. For 24 hours, beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, teams walk relay-style around a track as a symbol of unending support for cancer victims and their families.
Nathan Crookston got involved with Relay For Life when doctors told him he had a malignant tumor. He was 11-years-old a “I didn’t know kids got cancer and I thought everybody who did get it died,” said Nathan.
One year of chemotherapy treatments and surgeries ensued. Sickness, hair and weight loss and a leave of absence from school were only some of the changes that followed for the Valencia boy.
“This experience was life-changing and now my husband and I do everything we can to work towards eliminating cancer. We are very passionate about it,” says Kymmer.
In 2005, there was a luminaria bag and light with Nathan’s name on it placed on the track for the luminaria ceremony along with hundreds of others.
“Relay For Life has an incredible atmosphere. There was just this positive energy in the air. Nathan was weak and couldn’t walk so my husband carried him to the track so he could see his bag,” says Kymmer.
From that point on the Crookston’s have had a team walking at relay and Kymmer and her husband Kim have chaired the luminaria ceremony committee two years in a row.
Nathan is 13-years-old now and his cancer is in remission. Every three months he visits the oncologist for scans and tests to monitor his health. If he goes five years without traces of the disease, he will be considered cancer-free.
Words of wisdom from Nathan about those who may be facing what he went through: “God will help you and your family will be a huge help too. My mom was there for me as much as she could be.”
The event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Corporate sponsors include Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, The Magazine of Santa Clarita, KHTS, UCLA Cancer Center, Vantage Oncology and Valencia Car Wash.
For further information call 661-298-0886, option 3 or visit www.scvrelay.org or contact SCV Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society 25020 W. Avenue Stanford, Suite 170, Valencia, 91355.