What began in 1985 as one man’s passion to make a difference in the fight against cancer has swelled into the world’s largest nonprofit fundraising movement, today involving more than 5,000 communities worldwide, including 30 in the Inland Empire, including those still upcoming this summer: May 16—Rancho Cucamonga, San Jacinto, Temecula, Rubidoux, Colton, and Barstow; May 30—UC Riverside, Highland, La Sierra, Menifee, Moreno Valley, and Victorville; June 6—Ontario, San Bernardino; June 13—Riverside; June 20—Montclair; June 27—Chino Hills, Corona; August 1—Chino; and August 8—Loma Linda.
The power of one individual to truly make a difference is clearly seen in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which has grown from one man and one walk to a truly global grassroots movement uniting more than 3.5 million participants in the U.S. and 19 other countries. Relay For Life provides cancer survivors, their loved ones and caregivers, and others who wish to celebrate, remember, and fight back against the disease, with an opportunity to come together and share in the message of hope.
In 2009, Relay For Life commemorates its 25th year as well as Dr. Gordy Klatt’s 83-mile journey around a Tacoma, Washington, athletic track, where in walking, running, and raising $27,000 for the American Cancer Society, the colorectal surgeon established an event that has made a difference in the lives of countless people he has never met. Twenty-five years later, Dr. Klatt continues his involvement in his local community, reflecting the spirit of millions of Relayers around the globe.
Relay For Life participants’ unified call to action supports the American Cancer Society’s nearly 100-year commitment to save lives. The Society, the nation’s best-known voluntary health organization, helps people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; get well by being in their corner through every step of their cancer experience; by finding cures, through groundbreaking research and treatment discoveries; and by fighting back, through influencing public policy.
Relayers from Riverside and San Bernardino counties honor this legacy when they gather for an overnight Relay to celebrate loved ones who have battled cancer, remember those who have lost their lives, and commit to fight back against the disease.
“Relay For Life affords everyone in the Inland Empire such a wonderful opportunity
to participate in the American Cancer Society’s mission of promoting healthy lifestyles, saving lives, and providing personal assistance to those affected by the cancer experience. We’ve seen such great progress in all these areas, and Relay gives Riverside and San Bernardino County residents the chance to make a difference in so many lives,” said Joanne Cousino, volunteer chair of the American Cancer Society’s Inland Empire Leadership Council.
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free, 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Did you ever wish there was a way for you to “ESCAPE” from the busy routine of your everyday life? Did you ever wish there was a place you could go and feel comfortable to relax with good music, great food, a nice cocktail, and some friends? Now there is!
The Escape is opening Tuesday, June 1 at Gourmet Italia Original! During the HAPPY hours, Gourmet Italia is offering more than “just Italian”! The atmosphere is new and improved, offering a contemporary feel, clean and fresh! The servers attire reflects a relaxed and fun mood with sass and style! The food menu is amazing, ranging from shoestring French fries, chips and salsa, ceviche, oysters, buffalo wings, etc! Every day of the week offers incredible specials!
Come check it out and bring your friends, co-workers, or date! You’ll love the new place to “ESCAPE”!

The other day I was on the internet and decided to walk into a website just to look around. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. Just killing some time until the wife found another job she wanted me to do. Wives are like that, you know. So, in order to look like I was keeping himself busy, I went to that website.
Now, have you ever gone into a website and noticed one of those little meter devices sitting harmlessly off in the corner? You know, the one that tells you how many people have visited the site since it first opened back in the 18th century. I like to see those on a website since if the count is large, that means the site is important and in some small measure, so am I for visiting it. We all like to feel important, don’t we?
Then, I found sitting beside that counting meter was another one. This one told me how many people were visiting that site NOW. Isn’t that amazing? It seems I wasn’t the only one that had bought a ticket and was doing the tour. Only that started me to thinking. Who else was in the site at the same time I was there? Were there other people there I couldn’t see? If so, WHERE WERE THEY?
Listen, I don’t mind being someplace where there are other people. I mean, I use deodorant and brush my teeth regularly. Well, most days I do. All right, those that I have left anyway. But, who are those people in that website I’m in? How do I know there isn’t someone strange in there? When I went into the site nobody asked if I was strange when I entered. Did they you?
So, I looked around and didn’t see anybody. Not a soul, mind you. But the meter said there were other people there. Why didn’t they show themselves? Who would have a website that didn’t show the people that were visiting so we’d all know who was there? Who would do such a thing?
Well, I never did find out the answer to that one so I left. And believe you me I’m not going back until I get some answers. You aren’t putting me in some website with strange people and telling me they’re harmless. My therapist told me… Well, never mind what my therapist
told me. I just know the next time I go into a website and the counter tells me someone else is there besides me, I’m going to yell out “Who’s there?” If I don’t get an answer right soon, I’m leaving. Not putting me in any strange rooms with people stranger than I am.