Around 200 walkers formed into 20 teams attended at over the weekend.
Many of the walkers participated in honor of loved ones who have battled and won, battled and lost, or are still battling cancer.
Sarah Linder was recently diagnosed with skin cancer. However her motivation to walk was her sister, who is still batlling cancer.
Like many others, Linder was surprised to see the number of luminaria bags present on the track during the Luminaria Ceremony. The ceremony included lit bags, or luminarias, which were placed around the track. The ceremony inlcuded a video honoring lost loved ones and several speakers.
"It's sobering seeing so many bags and this is little San Lorenzo," Linder said.
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life is an annual event with more than 5,100 communitites holding individual events nationwide. Teams are formed and raise funds in advance of the event.
During the 24-hour relay, each team has a representative on the track at all times. Each team sets up camp and often hosts fundraising activities from their camp location.
Susan Bohan of "Team Marching for More Birthdays" was honoring a number of people including friends and coworkers.
"When someone is ill like that, you feel helpless," Bohan said. "This is something you can do."
It is what she and over 200 others did that made the event a success. According to event chair, Kathleen Harrigan, both Senator Ellen Corbett and American Cancer Society officials told her San Lorenzo's was the best "Baby Relay" they've seen. Baby Relay is a term used to refer to first year relays.
Harrigan also sang the praises of her team.
"We had such a good core group. All of us were wearing four or five hats," she said.
Check out the photos above of the event and feel free to include some of your own.
Like Castro Valley Patch on Facebook | Follow Castro Valley Patch on Twitter | Get Free Castro Valley Patch Newsletters
