A nice long walk

Deepa Bharath

A little rain was not going to dampen their spirits.

Hundreds gathered at Newport Harbor High’s athletic field Friday

evening, waterproofed and ready for the weekend’s Relay for Life in

honor of cancer victims and survivors.

There was a nip in the air, and people huddled closer to their

tents as dark clouds hovered over them, threatening to burst at any

minute.

“We’ve survived a lot,” said cancer survivor Norman Loats, a

Corona del Mar resident. “We’ll survive the rain.”

Loats is the former Newport-Mesa Unified School District

superintendent after whom Newport Harbor High’s auditorium is named.

Over 10 years, he has survived cancer of the skin, prostate and

throat.

“I’m here,” he said with a smile, “rain or shine.”

The event that raises money for the American Cancer Society moved

to Newport Beach for the first time last year. For 24 hours,

beginning at 6:30 p.m., about 45 teams walked nonstop around the

stadium. Keeping up the tradition, cancer survivors walked the first

lap.

Pat Smith, event co-chair, said the girls’ gymnasium would be open

in case people needed shelter from the rain.

“But you can tell from the tents that everyone has come prepared,”

she said, eyeing the grounds. “They’re here to stay.”

Barbara Sloate, who was handing out luminaria candles that were

lighted Friday night in honor of cancer victims, said she was

prepared for the downpour.

“We have glow sticks if we can’t have candles,” she said. “We’re

going to be lighted one way or the other.”

Sloate said she started volunteering for the event last year. Her

husband died of cancer two years ago, she said.

“I saw him suffer through everything,” Sloate said. “This is the

least I can do to honor his memory.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.