Cancer

The Army of Pink has marched into Glendale and occupied the Alex Theatre. On Oct. 6, seven men who are helping raise funds for breast-cancer awareness campaigned for votes as they walked the pink carpet and posed for photos surrounded by banners and pink balloons. Their captain is Laura Friedman , Glendale City Council member and breast-cancer survivor. She will be leading the army of seven Glendale movers and shakers to spread the message about resources in Glendale to diagnose, treat and support people living with breast cancer.

A rainbow greeted early arrivals Saturday morning at the Scholl Canyon Ballfields, kicking off a spirited weekend-long fundraiser to battle breast cancer. The seventh annual Relay for Life Glendale drew 500 people who raised money and awareness to battle the common and deadly form of cancer. Night and day, participants walked laps around a baseball diamond in honor of family members and friends afflicted by the disease. Local businesses, civic groups and Glendale city departments set up tents alongside the track offering food, drinks and encouragement.

GLENDALE — Five years ago, Glendale Water & Power employee Keisha Fulton-Guerrero was at a planning meeting for the city's annual Relay for Life event when she learned her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. "It made me push a little more to get my team motivated," she said. "Normally our teams were raising about $3,000. My first year we raised almost $8,000. " Five years later and with her mother in remission, Fulton-Guerrero is now co-chair of this year's seventh annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, a 24-hour event starting at 9 a.m. today at Scholl Canyon's baseball fields.

Some of Broadway's brightest stars will shine on the Alex Theatre stage Monday in "Broadway Tonight!" Eric McCormack of TV's "Will & Grace" and Broadway's "Music Man," and Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty of "Wicked" are among those who will be singing and dancing, said Barbara Epstein, producer and director. "For 'Broadway Tonight,' you are seeing all of them in one night in a fabulous show," Epstein said. The event will raise funds for weSPARK Cancer Support Center in Sherman Oaks, founded by actress Wendie Jo Sperber.

DOWNTOWN GLENDALE — Glendale police officers placed pink bands over their badges Friday to show support for breast cancer awareness. Police officials encouraged officers during Friday's roll call to maintain the band during October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "I think every one of us has dealt with someone or knows someone who has cancer," Sgt. Tom Lorenz said, noting officers have worn black bands to commemorate fallen officers. "This is probably the most obvious, but also subtle way at the same time," said Glendale Lt. Bruce Fox of supporting the cause.

A hands-on charitable effort like no other takes place Tuesday as Massage Envy in Glendale raises funds to fight breast cancer with Massage for the Cure. This year marks the fifth time the Glendale shop will donate a portion of proceeds from every massage to the Los Angeles County affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. "Last year, I did 128 massages," Glendale shop owner Helen McDonagh said. "I'm hoping to beat it this year. " In 2009, massage therapists at McDonagh's clinic raised more than $1,900 with relaxation, prenatal, Swedish and other massages, donating $15 for each one-hour session.

Girl Scout Kristine Locker , of La Cañada Flintridge, a senior at Sacred Heart Academy in La Cañada Flintridge, refurbished Ingeborg's Place Apart — a relaxing area for cancer patients at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Completing the project earned her the Girl Scout's Gold Award. Kristine took on the task of refurbishing the room with new paint, flat-screen TV and sconces for wig models. She raised all the funds for this project by recycling — which she started in her freshman year.

If you see a spunky gal stepping lively down Kenneth Road, it could be Theresa "Terri" Ulbricht. The Glendale resident is training for a marathon and a half in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on Sept. 11 and 12 in Santa Barbara, and in New York Oct. 16 and 17. It is presented by the Avon Foundation for Women. Ulbricht has not only walked, but brought in more than $48,000 in donations over the last three years. Participating in the walk is a tradition she's kept since 2007, soon after she completed her own battle with the disease.

Cancer Survivor Day was celebrated as "Life is a Dance" at Glendale Adventist Medical Center on Friday with a healthy roasted-chicken lunch and a decadent fruit tart for dessert. Keynote speaker Chris Erskine regaled his audience with the home-spun humor found in his "Man in the House" Los Angeles Times column. More than 200 cancer survivors, their families, hospital oncologists and administrators present also got a dose of sobriety when Erskine described his father's battle with cancer.

When doctors 10 years ago diagnosed Mary Strauss with breast cancer, the retired bookkeeper was forced to confront a condition that for much of her life went unnamed. “Growing up, we never talked about cancer,” said Strauss, 76, of La Cañada. “It was the big C. You didn’t tell people you had the big C, this dreadful, terrible disease. Who tells people about a looming death sentence?” This weekend she joined more than 1,000 survivors, their supporters and people who lost loved ones to cancer at American Cancer Society Relay for Life events in La Crescenta and Burbank.