Central Valley Relay Raises $160K in Cancer Fight

When six-year-old cancer survivor Rylee Stephens opened a basket of white doves at Johansen High School, she set more than birds free. She launched a 24-hour marathon of hope that would raise over $160,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The 2026 Relay For Life Greater Central Valley brought together 51 teams from Oakdale, Escalon, Riverbank, Modesto, Turlock, Denair and surrounding communities on May 16-17. Hundreds of participants walked the track in shifts, ensuring someone was always moving, a powerful symbol that cancer never sleeps.

Maddi Kerlee, a Denair teacher and cancer survivor, joined the event for the first time after learning about it at her survivor support group in Turlock. She held a dove in her hands during the opening ceremony, releasing it just before Rylee opened the basket. For Kerlee, who lost her father to cancer two years ago and considers the dove a family symbol, the moment carried deep meaning.

After completing their first lap around the track, Modesto firefighters greeted each survivor with a special medal. The gesture honored not just their battle with cancer, but their willingness to show up and inspire others still fighting.

Teams raised nearly $30,000 during the weekend event itself, adding to donations and sponsorships collected beforehand. The Sutter Health Gold Together team, led by Jennifer Ayala, topped all fundraisers with $22,697 and won awards for team spirit.

The Ripple Effect

This wasn't just about the money, though every dollar counts toward research and patient support. The event created space for 87-year-old Bette Perry of Crows Landing, a cancer survivor known as "Dancing Bette," to dance with retired Oakdale teacher Pete Simoncini while a band played on stage.

It gave families like Kerlee's a reason to gather with grandchildren and celebrate life. It taught kids at a free fishing clinic how to tie bait and cast lines, connecting them to the "Fishing For A Cure" theme while showing them their community cares.

Throughout the day and night, musical performances, costume contests, cardboard car races, and a luminaria ceremony kept energy high. A midnight screening of Finding Nemo and an early morning karaoke session carried participants through the toughest hours before dawn.

The relay's format requires at least one team member on the track at all times during the full 24 hours. That continuous motion sends a message to everyone present: in the fight against disease, persistence matters, community matters, and showing up matters.

Teams had until May 31 to continue fundraising, with totals already exceeding $160,000 just two days after the event ended. Kaiser Permanente served as presenting sponsor, helping ensure the resources were in place for such an ambitious gathering.

Relay For Life events happen in communities across America, but this Central Valley gathering proved that small towns united can generate major impact in the search for better treatments and eventual cures.