Celebrate good times – Local band Redskunk enlivens the atmosphere at Idler's, where Relay for Life supporters gathered for a kick off party Friday, Feb. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Smiling faces and warm greetings filled Idler's in Paso Robles for the 2010 Paso Robles Relay For Life Kick Off event.

A bountiful spread of food and local band Redskunk kept the mood festive and fun as cancer survivors, caregivers and concerned residents mingled and reunited during the kickoff last Friday, Feb. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.

"[Relay For Life] gets bigger every year, and we put it on in order to get everyone in the spirit of relay, to sign up new teams and for the fellowship of the families," said Millie Drum, Paso Robles Relay for Life public relations representative.

This year's Relay For Life event will take place on June 26 and 27 during 24-hour stints from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. the following morning at the River Oaks Hot Springs in Paso Robles.

For a full 24 hours, various Relay For Life teams' representatives will walk a track. Funds provided by team sponsors will benefit the American Cancer Society.

This year, the National Cancer Society adopted the slogan, "A world with more birthdays."

The Relay for Life event will mirror that hope.

"Our theme is 'birthday celebrations,' and really that's the goal," local Relay For Life Chair Julie Aikenhead said. "[Relay For Life] is a fundraiser, a place to lift up our survivors and caregivers and a venue for education and advocacy."

According to Aikenhead, Relay For Life will attempt to reach a goal of raising $115,000 in 2010. As of Friday, Feb. 5, about 30 teams signed up to participate in the event. Computers available at the Idler's kickoff party allowed interested locals to sign up for Relay For Life on the spot, which may mean that Relay For Life will reach their 55 team goal that much faster.

Blackburn Wine Company provided wine tasting to guests throughout the evening. Blackburn Winery Owner Genoa Riley, a cancer survivor diagnosed with malignant melanoma at age 26, supported the event for the past three years.

As such, Riley makes it a point to participate in the event each year.

"As soon as [Idler's] called us and asked if we wanted to be involved and told us about [Relay For Life], we knew we were on board," Riley said. "[Relay for Life] a mission that's close to our heart and it's really our goal to do anything we can to help."

Perhaps the youngest Relay For Life leader at the mixer, eighth-grader T.J. Miller...

For the complete article see the 02-09-2010 issue.

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