Fighting and surviving

Hundreds gathered in Newport Beach on Saturday with one goal in mind: To stand as one in the face of cancer.

There were some who fought cancer and survived; others were there in support of friends and family members and some were there in memory of loved ones who lost the battle.

“This is a great example of Newport Beach coming together as a community to support those who have been stricken by cancer,” said Mayor Keith Curry.

Curry, who attended the ninth annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Newport Beach with his wife, Pamela, said the cause strikes a chord too close to home for him. Pamela Curry is an 11-year breast cancer survivor.

The event began at 10 a.m. Saturday at Newport Harbor High School stadium and was scheduled to end in 24 hours with a goal of keeping at least one team around the clock at the stadium.

Cancer survivor and surf-rock guitarist Dick Dale, who is referred to as the “King of the Surf Guitar,” also attended the event.

At times when the pain from his treatments was too excruciating, Dale said he would think of something else and find a way to laugh.

“We are here to forget what we have and make someone else laugh, so that they can forget what they have,” he said.

Those who gathered with their teams were not just from Newport Beach.

Carrie and Richard Micklo came from Corona in memory of their dear friend Rusty Grandolf.

Grandolf, a Newport resident, died of lung cancer in December after battling the disease for two years.

“This is the first time without him on our team,” Richard Micklo said. “We felt we needed to keep the legacy in memory of him.”

The Newport Beach Fire Department was also there representing the city and showing support for the cause.

Mark Garman walked with three fellow firefighters and said members from his department plan to be at the event throughout the whole weekend.

Funds raised from the event go toward cancer research, outreach, education and toward helping those with the disease fight it.