A walk that would do Judy Oetting proud

LOLITA HARPER

These Nikes were made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do.

Don’t make any plans for the weekend of May 14. You are officially

invited to walk on the Daily Pilot team for this year’s annual Relay

for Life in Newport Beach.

That’s right, it is that time of the year again. Time to lace up

your tennies and join in one of the greatest parties in the area,

where participants walk for 24 hours to raise money for the American

Cancer Society.

This will be the third year Newport Beach has hosted the event and

the second year the Daily Pilot will enter a team. For those of us at

the paper, this year will be even more meaningful, as our team will

honor our late advertising director, Judy Oetting, who passed away

Feb. 26 of pancreatic cancer. She was only 51.

Those on the Daily Pilot team will be, “Walking with Judy” -- as

it will say on our team T-shirts. And let me tell you, a walk with

Judy is not something you want to pass up.

Her laugh, her smile, her crooked nod of the head that lovingly

let you know you just made a fool out of yourself, will be replaying

in my head as I walk my laps. Her words of encouragement, her

prompting to keep going, her promise that everything will work out

the way it was meant to, is what is going to keep me truckin’ around

the track.

And I want you all to walk with me.

Here’s the way it works: Members of our team will divvy up the

walking duties in shifts -- ultimately covering all 24 hours of the

relay. That means from 6 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday, we

will have a representative on that track.

In order to accommodate the late-night, after-hours walkers, the

team sets up a tent in our designated campsite. Contrary to popular

belief, the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. shifts are actually a blast. Sleep

deprivation and giddiness start to settle in and before you know it,

you are giggling your way around that track -- passing the quiet

hours by making silly dares of those around you.

For the sake of not incriminating myself and other teammates, I

will leave it at that. But trust me when I tell you, it is fun to be

a night owl.

If you are more conventional, you are welcome to sign up for any

of the “normal” time slots. Local merchants will offer a smorgasbord

of goodies and music and entertainment keep spirits high. Shifts are

flexible and can range from 30 minutes to two hours.

Those who are hard-core will be on the track more often than not.

(I think I logged about 16 hours last year.)

Since 2001, when Newport Beach began hosting this event, the city

has broken records with its unparalleled fundraising. This community

rocks when it comes to raising money for a good cause, but I am

throwing out a challenge this year.

Relay for Life is a 24-hour event. Why?

Not because it is convenient and not because it is easy but

because it is a testament to the strong will of those who have

battled cancer. Those who are walking are doing so out of love,

respect, honor and support of those who have fought the disease.

Now, if there are 30 teams, at least 30 people are expected to be

on the track at all times. This doesn’t always happen -- especially

in the twilight hours or around 4 p.m. Saturday, toward the end of

the event. There were many times last year that only a handful of

hard-core walkers were on that track.

My challenge to the Newport-Mesa community is not only to exceed

monetary expectations but to really embrace the spirit of the walk.

Drag your tired behind around that track regardless of errands or

lack of sleep -- at least you are healthy enough to do so.

Those who are interested in joining the Daily Pilot team can

e-mail me at the address below. Co-captain Lana Johnson, the Pilot’s

promotional director, and I will be in charge of coordinating the

walking schedule, getting T-shirts and distributing entry forms.

Please come out and represent the community -- and join us in our

walk with Judy.

* LOLITA HARPER is the Forum editor. She also writes columns

Wednesdays and Fridays. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by

e-mail at [email protected].