Walking to raise funds in the fight against cancer in Pleasant Hill's Relay for Life on May 19, are above, from left, Hanna Kanofski, of Berkeley, and Ali O'Grady and her stepsister Jenni Alegria, both of Pleasant Hill. Martinez will hold its Relay for Life event July 28-29, at Las Juntas Elementary School. O'Grady walked with friends and family in honor of her father, Bob O'Grady, of Pleasant Hill, who died of colon cancer in September 2011. The 24-hour relay includes an opening and closing ceremony, a survivor lap and luminaria ceremony, in which each lighted bag bears the name of a friend or family member touched by cancer or who has died of the disease. At the Pleasant Hill event, left, people clap as 80 cancer survivors wearing purple T-shirts walk during the survivor and caregiver lap. Fifty-four teams consisting of about 400 participants raised almost $55,000. For more information about the Martinez Relay for Life, visit www.relayforlife.org/martinezca.

JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/Staff photos