Taking Notes:

Cancer killed my cousin “Butch” some 15 years ago.

It killed my wife’s father when he was only 42. It killed my friend, mentor and former Daily Pilot reporter Bob Barker. It killed Judy Oetting, the Daily Pilot’s longtime ad manager.

This year, it struck again, killing my best friend’s dad.

Cancer doesn’t kill every time it strikes. Humans have learned how to fight. My other cousin survived stage III breast cancer and I have a friend out there who is going through chemotherapy and radiation treatment right now and his prognosis is good.

With all of them in my thoughts, I trudged around the track at Newport Harbor High School for the seventh annual Relay for Life. It was two hours in a fairly blazing heat, I had plenty of time to think of my family and friends, living and deceased, and how this disease devastates.

And I wasn’t the only one. About 1,000 of us did the walk during the 24-hour stretch from 10 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday, raising some $200,000 toward eliminating this disease that deprives us of so many memories.

If you’ve never done the Relay for Life, I urge you to consider it next year. What better cause is there than saving lives?

The event is more than just a long walk, though. There are activities for kids and music for adults, and it’s a good place to catch up with community members.

At Saturday’s event, I ran into Councilwoman Nancy Gardner who was chatting with Mayor Ed Selich. Local businessman Rick Johns was there as usual in honor of his late wife Rosalyn Williams, the former Conference and Visitors Bureau honcho who lost her battle with breast cancer several years ago.

Special thanks to longtime Costa Mesa resident Janie Arnold, who kept an eye on my 4-year-old son, Nate, who got a little tired of walking the track with his dad.

Newport Beach Fire Chief Steve Lewis was there along with several of his firefighters, some decked out in full gear walking in the heat.

The Marines from the 1/1 were there also, some in full regalia. Mostly, they ran the track while the rest of us out of shape folks walked. And they definitely had the best tent, a camouflaged desert number.

I ran into Daily Pilot Cup guru and local attorney Kirk McIntosh, who was out there with his wife, Sue. And Pilot columnist Barbara Venezia was there camping out in her RV.

From the Pilot staff I ran into Managing Editor Brady Rhoades, Director of Promotions Lana Johnson and graphic designer Craig Spalter, who was there with his family.

And also spotted was Publisher Tom Johnson, who was visiting with his daughter, Ashley, who was one of the event’s organizers.

Next year, I hope to spot you in the crowd.

As I mentioned in my blog last week, the Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation is holding a fundraiser June 13 that will honor the “Rocky” past of the old Balboa Cinema, which is being rebuilt into a performing arts theater house.

The fundraiser will be a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” party with food and entertainment for all.

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” was filmed in the late 1970s and became a cult hit. Screenings of the show continue, usually at midnight. The Balboa Cinema was one of the movie houses that showed the film.

For information on the party go to www.thebalboatheater.org/ rocky.php.

TONY DODERO is the director of news and online. He can be reached via e-mail at tony.dodero@latimes.com or by phone at 714-966-4608.