MANKIN CHAIRMAN OF RELAY FOR LIFE CHAMBER LEADER PLANS ACTIVE ROLE.Byline: - Daily News SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Larry Mankin, president and chief executive officer of the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. Chamber of Commerce, will serve as honorary chairman of the American Cancer Society's 2005 Santa Clarita Valley Relay For Life Relay For Life (often shortened to Relay) is a fundraising event of the American Cancer Society, and is now held in many other countries. It is an overnight event designed to spread awareness of cancer prevention, treatments and cures, celebrate survivorship and raise money . The appointment was announced at the recent Relay Rally at Valencia Acura, where dozens of rain-drenched relay captains and walkers gathered to kick off this year's relay event, scheduled for June 25-26 at College of the Canyons College of the Canyons is one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state. According to the National Junior College Research Association, College of the Canyons consistently ranks in the top 50 community colleges in the nation. . Mankin agreed to serve as honorary chairman of this year's relay because he sees the value of business participation in such an event and because he has a personal belief in the cause. ``Like many families, we have been touched by cancer a number of times,'' Mankin said. ``My mother had lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. and my wife had a brain tumor Brain Tumor Definition A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. Unlike other tumors, brain tumors spread by local extension and rarely metastasize (spread) outside the brain. . We have dealt with that since May of 2000, and she is doing great.'' Mankin plans to actively promote the local relay, with a goal of pushing the local walk to a new level in the business community. He noted that business can play a role through sponsorship, corporate and personal executive contributions and organization of employee teams. ``This one is very important to me,'' Mankin said. ``I didn't hesitate to say yes.'' While Mankin is very selective about the causes in which he becomes involved, he said that, in addition to his family members, the Chamber of Commerce has three staff members currently dealing with cancer. ``Dollars raised through Relay For Life go a long way toward finding the ultimate cure for the dread disease dread disease A disease with a significant impact on lifestyle–eg, multiple sclerosis, longevity–eg AIDS, CA, which incurs high costs–eg, extensive burns, persistent vegetative state, and/or cause significant and permanent residual morbidity, ie ,'' he said. Relay For Life is in its seventh year in the Santa Clarita Valley and has shown its commitment to the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, by raising more than $1.6 million for research, education, advocacy and patient services. This year's goal is $550,000. The relay event consists of team captains who organize their friends, co- workers, family members and others to form a team. Members then collect contributions before the event, and the actual relay becomes a 24-hour celebration at the end of the fundraising. For information, call Laura Scott at (661) 296-0081 or e-mail Evelyn Silverman at Evelyn.Silverman(at)cancer.org. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Larry Mankin, president and chief executive of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, has a goal of boosting the Relay for Life to a new level in the business community. |
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