A banner stretched across a small pop-up canopy displaying the words: "Hitting Cancer out of the park!" at the booth of the Cancer Dodgers at the Relay For Life at CSUB May 1. The team is made of mostly family and friends joined together by a single cause: to fight cancer. The following is their story in photos.
Relay team Cancer Dodgers group together around cancer survivor Bret Haney and pose for a complimentary picture for all teams at The Relay For Life. The group formed three years ago to participate in cancer awareness fundraisers. Bret was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Aggressive Lymphoma at the age of 25 in 2003 and has been in remission for six years.
Bret Haney (left) and mother Janet Haney take a walk past relay teams and sponsor booths at Relay For Life.
Tori Freeborn (left) with her husband Josh and mother Janet Haney (right) chat as they walk the perimiter at Relay For Life.
The Cancer Dodgers Booth where the group can sit down, relax, and where they will camp out over the next 24 hours.
Cancer Dodger Sean Novak smiles as he adds another bead to his necklace marking his 30th lap around the perimeter of Relay For Life. Novak has been walking since 9 a.m. and hopes to accomplish 18 miles, as he did last year, before calling it a day.
Novak walks on throughout the day as a way to show support for his mother, who has had breast cancer for many years. “It’s a great way to give back.” - Novak
Amberly Haney plays with little bat girl Brooklyn Smith at the Cancer Dodgers booth at Relay For Life.
Tori and Josh Freeborn look at the many booths set up in the CSUB soccer fields as they take a stroll around the perimeter at Relay For Life.
Bat Girl Halle Rasmussen smiles for the camera while playing with fellow bat girls and boys in front of the Cancer Dodgers booth at the relay.
Cancer Survivor Bret Haney and wife Amberly hold each other while taking a walk around Relay For Life.
Amberly Haney straightens up the Cancer Dodgers booth after the finish of the day’s activities before the commencement of the Luminaria ceremony.
Bat Boy Michael Rasmussen hangs out at the booth before the Luminaria ceremony.
Kathy Aragon stops for a quick picture after picking up her raffle winnings at the Cancer Dodgers booth. The Cancer Dodgers raffled off a number of prizes including a Blue-Ray player, DVD sets, Baseball tickets donated by the LA Dodgers, and more.
Team Cancer Dodgers breaks glow sticks to put in luminaria bags in memory and honor of cancer patients.
Halle Rasmussen drops a lit glow-stick into a paper bag to honor cancer survivor Bret Haney at the Luminaria Ceremony at the Relay For Life.
Cancer survivor Josh Worthen embraces wife Sarah as they look to the stage as the Luminaria ceremony commences. Josh was diagnosed with oligodendroma, which is a set of tumors in the left frontal lobe of his brain. He had surgery and chemotherapy and has been in remission for 8 years.
Glowing paper bags line the walkway as Brian Smith walks with daughter Brooklyn during the Luminaria walk, where all teams walk together with loved ones.
Jill and Nathan Urmston enjoy snacks and each others company as they take the Luminaria walk together.
Friends, teammates and cancer survivors Bret Haney and Josh Worthen get together for a photo after the Luminaria walk. The friends got together on the team after hearing of each others cancer stories.
"I relay, not only for myself, but for everyone who has ever had, has, or will have cancer and the loved ones who care and support them, Lets Dodge Cancer!"- Bret Haney
