Rallies Tackle Topics Most Prefer to Avoid

By Charlie Warner, Special to the Independent

Sunny Laguna Beach provided a temporary home for two worthy causes this past Saturday.

At El Morro Elementary, several cancer survivors basked in the spotlight of the morning sun during a “survivor lap” Saturday, Oct. 15, while later that day cancer victims were remembered in a moving tribute under the full moon.

The annual Relay for Life, organized internationally by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and run by local volunteers, proved a success. In all, nearly 150 people of all ages came to run, and took a step towards a cure. The event lasted just 12 hours, half of the typical 24-hours of relays in previous years. Even with half the time, the event raised a pretty sum.

“At last count, we raised nearly $25,000 for cancer research, through contributions continue to come in and we are in the process of adding proceeds from the silent auction and other related fund-raising activities. My guess is that we will approach $30,000 when all is said and done,” said local resident Tad Heitmann, a lead organizer for the event.

“The money makes a real difference for cancer researchers around the country, but particularly here in Orange County where more than $5 million dollars in ACS-funded research is currently being conducted at UCI alone.” He said that represents more than twice the amount contributed by county donors.

The most common cancer for women is breast cancer and for men, prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual report. The most common killer is lung cancer, and with the popularity of e-cigarettes, the numbers are rising, says the report, which predicts 53,000 deaths in California annually from all types of cancer.

Despite a solemn mood throughout the entire 12 hours, relay teams circled the track accompanied around the clock by games, contests, and live music, featuring Shaena Stabler, Rocky’s Revival and The Salty Suites. Local station KX 93.5 even got in on the action.

The same day, another mob assembled at 10 a.m. on Main Beach to raise awareness for a different cause. About 150 people gathered, wearing black clothing, holding signs. Some even wore duct tape over their mouths to show their solidarity.

The Walk for Freedom march around downtown Laguna was intended to provide awareness for human trafficking, which has a foothold in Orange County. Of 231 domestic sex trafficking cases in the United States between 2012 to 2015, 22% occurred in Orange County, according to a report from U.S. State Department. A total of 77%, or 180 of the 231 cases occurred in California, the report says.

The rally sponsor, non-profit A21, works closely with law enforcement as well as religious centers to spread awareness about trafficking and to help victims. By most official sources, there are currently between 20 and 30 million people in slavery, most being in India or West Africa.

“This walk raises awareness of the problem of human trafficking; it’s the fastest growing organized crime in the world right now,” said Jason Huffman, a volunteer and participant in the event as well as lead pastor of Reliant Church, a non-denominational Christian church based in Laguna. “There’s 27 million people involved in slavery right now, and it happens in Orange County,” he said. “We want to get people the curriculum in their hands.”

The walk started at Main Beach next to the Laguna Beach Open, a local volleyball tournament. Thanks to a police escort, the crowd walked to the Festival of Arts grounds, past the farmers market and circled back to Main Beach to wave signs at passing cars.