Central Valley Relay For Life Raises $160K Fighting Cancer

Six-year-old Rylee Stephens opened a basket and watched doves soar into the California sky, officially starting a 24-hour celebration of survival, community, and unwavering hope in the fight against cancer.

The 2026 Relay For Life Greater Central Valley brought together 51 teams and hundreds of participants at Johansen High School in Modesto on May 16-17. Together, they raised over $160,000 for the American Cancer Society, combining advance donations with nearly $30,000 raised on-site during the weekend event.

The relay's opening ceremony featured something deeply moving. Cancer survivors Rylee and Maddi Kerlee, a former teacher from Denair, released white doves before completing their inaugural Survivor Lap around the track. Modesto firefighters waited at the finish line to present each survivor with a special medal.

For Kerlee, attending her first Relay after learning about it at a survivor support group in Turlock, the dove release carried extra meaning. "I lost my dad a couple of years ago and we've kind of used the dove as our spirit," she said, surrounded by her grandchildren at her team's booth. "When I did that, it was pretty special."

The relay's core mission is simple but powerful: keep someone from each team on the track at all times during the 24 hours. It's a living reminder that cancer never sleeps, so neither does the community fighting it.

Teams from Oakdale, Escalon, Riverbank, Modesto, Turlock, Denair and beyond set up booths around the track. The weekend featured a fishing clinic teaching kids to cast lines (complete with free poles for registered participants), musical performances, a classic car show, and creative theme laps including Superhero and Tutu walks.

As evening fell, the luminaria ceremony honored those lost to cancer. The celebration continued through a midnight screening of Finding Nemo, matching the event's "Fishing For A Cure" theme, before wrapping Sunday morning with karaoke.

The Ripple Effect

The Sutter Health Gold Together team, led by Jennifer Ayala, emerged as the top fundraising team with $22,697 raised. Their success shows what's possible when healthcare professionals channel their daily witness of cancer's impact into action.

But every team made a difference. From 87-year-old cancer survivor Bette Perry, nicknamed "Dancing Bette" for her enthusiastic moves to the band performances, to Kerlee's first-time Kerlee Cattle team, each participant added to a wave of hope rippling through Central Valley communities.

Kaiser Permanente served as presenting sponsor, and participants have until May 31 to continue raising funds. Every dollar funds research, supports patients, and brings the medical community one step closer to a world where cancer loses its power to devastate families.

Twenty-four hours of walking proves something essential: we're stronger together than cancer could ever be alone.