Locals to run in Williams’ honor

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- A team of locals running in the name of Rosalind

Williams, the Conference and Visitors Bureau chief who succumbed to

breast cancer last week, is being organized to compete in the annual Race

for the Cure this September.

Friend and annual AIDS Walk participant, Deputy City Manager Dave Kiff,

sparked the interest in starting a team to run in the annual fund-raiser

to fight breast cancer with an e-mail message that circulated around

Newport Beach City Hall.

“We wanted to call it a city walk team but decided to invite everybody

who knew Rosalind to join us and sign up with us,” Kiff said, adding that

volunteers are putting together a pamphlet and are hoping to get matching

T-shirts and caps for the race.

The response, he said, was great. Soon he had city employees Andrea

McGuire and Cathy Fisher on board, although neither knew Williams. Like

many, they are all too familiar with the disease.

“I’ve known people who have had breast cancer and who have successfully

beaten it and people that have not,” McGuire said. “Here’s a chance for

us to do something for a good cause and for someone who put so much of

her time and energy into the city.”

Fisher agreed, saying her brother’s mother-in-law recently passed away at

the age of 55 from complications from breast cancer.

Williams, who was the same age when she died, was known for her boundless

energy and enthusiasm. Under her direction, the bureau drew tourists for

the Toshiba Senior Classic golf tournament, the Rose Bowl and the

Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race.

Two months ago she presented a copy of a $21-million check -- revenues

drawn from tourist taxes over the year -- to the City Council.

Each day, one woman in Orange County dies of breast cancer and five more

are diagnosed with the life-threatening disease, according to the Susan

G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

In the hopes of one day finding a cure, the foundation has the annual

race to raise money. It has already raised more than $3 million since the

first Orange County race in 1992.

“I think it’s going to be really great,” Kiff said of the team. “It’s a

terrific way to honor her.”

FYI

WHAT: Race for the Cure -- Rosalind Williams’ team

WHEN: The race is Sept. 24 at Fashion Island

WHO: Dave Kiff, deputy city manager, is accepting sign-ups. Call (949)

644-3032 or e-mail him at o7 [email protected]