‘Helping to fight cancer’

Over the past two years, the Newport Beach Relay for Life team Rusty’s Dangeroos has raised about $40,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Team captain Joe Trujillo founded Rusty’s Dangeroos in 2008 after his friend Rusty Grandolf was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, a type of the disease that spreads rapidly to other parts of the body, according to the American Cancer Society. Surgery is rarely an option and most people aren’t diagnosed until the cancer is in its advanced stages.

Grandolf lost his battle with cancer in December, but Trujillo has decided to keep the team going this year to honor his friend’s memory. His friend would have wanted it that way, Trujillo said.

Had it not been for cutting-edge cancer treatments the American Cancer Society helps fund research for, Grandolf might not have lived for 18 months after he was diagnosed, Trujillo said.

“It’s about the community coming together for a common goal to fight against something, Trujillo said.

This year, Rusty’s Dangeroos hopes to raise another $20,000 for the ninth annual Newport Beach Relay for May 15 to 16 at Newport Harbor High School.

Relay for Life volunteers and cancer survivors gathered at the Newport Coast Community Center on Saturday to kick off this year’s fundraising event. About 900 people participated in last year’s event, raising about $178,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Newport’s annual event is one of biggest fundraising relays in Orange County, said Jennifer Patalsky, a Relay for Life manager for the American Cancer Society.

“Most people who participate have been touched by cancer in some way,” Patalsky said. “When you’re going thorough the battle, you feel powerless, but people do the relay are helping to fight cancer.”

How To Help

Newport Beach Relay for Life is May 15 to 16 at Newport Harbor High School

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.relayforlife.org/NewportBeachca