Relay for Life at El Morro

Staff photo by Courtenay Nearburg Galvanized by cancer victims and survivors they know, Laguna Beach lifeguards Kai Bond, left, and Nima Martazavi organized a 29-person team of guards to participate in the 24-hour Relay For Life, which begins at El Morro Elementary tonight, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. Lifeguard Tom Trager sounds laid back about his cancer ordeal.

After a 2002 sun-begun bout with melanoma, the most lethal of three types of skin cancer, he recovered fully and passed the coveted five-year, cancer-free milestone. Today, he is nearly dismissive of his experience with the disease and the successful excision of skin from just below his Adam's apple.

Trager's brushed velvet, grew-up-in-Laguna vocal tones match the sun-bleached air and hair seen on so many in his profession. Like his lifeguard peers, his nonchalance belies his training, honed to spot danger and distress among the swells and breaks before kicking fullspeed through the sun, sand and waves to become a hero to many who visit the local beaches.

That athletic ease was partly honed in the limelight as a professional skim-boarder featured on a 1987 Sports Illustrated cover. He practiced that sport from his early days on Victoria Beach.

After 22 years serving humanity at the surf, Trager was promoted to lieutenant in 2007.

He's decided to help save lives another way this Friday and Saturday in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, though he predictably downplays his part in the 29 member team that was begun by lifeguard buddies.

"I'm not thinking about myself," Trager said. "It's for a good cause."

Along with a score of other teams, the lifeguards and their families will walk 24 hours in shifts around the El Morro Elementary school track this Friday Aug. 22 beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday will pose a special logistical challenge for the team, though, since beaches must remain fully staffed during the relay.

"We'll have to walk in shifts rather than all together," cocaptain Kai Bond said.

The Laguna Beach Lifeguard Association team was assembled for the first time this year by lifeguard friends Bond and another captain, Nima Mortazavi. "It occurred to us that the 'fight cancer cause,' would be perfect for the association to sponsor," Bond said.

As a lifelong Laguna resident, Bond remembers his granddad taking him into the ocean as a child. "I think about him all the time and miss him every day," Bond said. "He passed away at 58 due to kidney cancer."

Mortazavi's friend Tori Dever, the relay's marketing chair, is also a survivor, having undergone ovarian and uterine cancer as a teenager. "Tori has been my inspiration," Mortazavi said, "for getting involved."

Walking teen package-of-hope Meagan Moss, who survives her recent cancer and treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma excised from her chest, will take to the track with one of the biggest groups, Dever's former relay team comrades, the Ruby's Diner Youth Team led by local high school senior Dane Wright.

Wright's mom, Caroline, and sister Erica began the team and the family has been involved for six years. Dane took over as team captain last year when his sister went to college and is inspired by the memory of seeing an empty chair in classrooms which his friend and teammate, Meagan, vacated during her treatment. Now she is back.

The Wright-led Ruby's Youth Team has 30 students so far, and they are all charged with rounding up money donors. "We might end up with 35," Dane said. Among other donations, he said, "Ruby's is providing us dinner and breakfast and paid for our registration and t-shirts."

Financial support for teams comes from various sources. For the LBLGA, team sponsorship has come from the association itself, from friends, some local companies and relatives.

Survivors, caregivers, team members, volunteers and those others donating funds can still find their way into the event through www.events.cancer. org/rfllagunabeachca or by contacting Tori Dever, marketing chair, at (949) 293-5842, or by showing up and joining in the festivities.

Twenty-one teams are on the roster this year to fulfill the goal of raising $115,000 and are less than a third of the way there at this point. "Donations will come in up to two weeks afterwards," Dever said. She was on the Ruby's team during for two years before marketing for the Relay event.

UPS has pledged $10,000 and anticipates 100 entrants from here and nearby communities.

A luminaria lighting Friday at 9 p.m. honors the legions of deceased victims and loved ones, and those who have been touched by cancer in other ways.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the society has 13 regional divisions that host hundreds of relays, involving millions of volunteers across the United States.

The 6 p.m. opening ceremony at El Morro on Friday is immediately followed by a survivor lap. Survivors will get a special shirt for arriving and have a special area set aside.

Free trolleys will be provided for participants this year from the Laguna Beach school district parking lot to El Morro's field Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sometime during this weekend, Tom Trager will march with his lifeguard buddies. Trager knows he was fortunate that surgery took care of his bout with cancer six years ago, where others have endured prolonged, systemic and deeply invasive treatments.

Though he deals with surfrelated dangers with calm reserve, Trager can't help but know that it will be harder to maintain his composure walking the track in celebration of life and defiance of a disease that has touched so many.