- March 25, 2026
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Yamile Rivera remembers when her mother was diagnosed with stage four mantle cell lymphoma in 2008. She said the doctors gave her six months to live.
Rivera has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society for the past 30 years and said she had not known anyone with cancer before she started. Learning of her mom’s diagnosis, she knew the resources ACS provided and immediately called its 1-800 helpline to learn what to do.
She said thanks to the ACS and a cell transplant in 2009 at the Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, her mother lived another 10 years.
Her mother’s cancer journey has motivated Rivera to serve as a co-leader of Relay for Life of Lake Buena Vista since 2012 to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
“I got to live a full life with my mom, treated her to many cruises and wonderful things,” Rivera said. “She became a survivor at the relay and had her own team, Virginia’s Angels. I still go to (the relay to) memorialize her and everything she did and to give back to the American Cancer Society. I feel like I owe them for those 10 wonderful years I had with mom.”
Rivera will continue to honor her mom at the annual walk, which is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 28, near the District Fire Department Station No. 4 at 1920 E. Buena Vista Drive.
Rivera also said her husband who is a prostate cancer survivor and her brother who currently is battling stage four colorectal cancer give her more reasons to make the event happen.
The relay kicks off with a celebration of the cancer survivors in attendance, holding what the organizers call a “survivor lap.” Survivors also have the chance to wear purple sashes and survivor medals, provided by event staff, while they walk.
Rivera said about 30 teams have registered this year with between 10 and 20 members signed up for each team, which include families and local businesses. She added that each team has a “spirit wand” handed off between team members during laps throughout the entire event, as a symbol of the cancer journey.
Teams sponsor the laps, which are named after characters and details from the “Wizard of Oz” franchise. The leadership voted on the theme from a pool of the participants’ suggestions. Lap names include “Over the Rainbow” at 4:45 p.m., “Fly Monkeys Fly” at 5:45 p.m. and “Glinda’s Bubble Lap” at 6:45 p.m.
In between laps, dance performances from the Orlando Cloggers and the Performer’s Edge Dance Center will be held on the event’s stage. Musical artist Kit Citrine also is scheduled to perform at 5:15 p.m.
The money raised at the event goes directly to supporting the ACS, Rivera said, including the helpline Rivera used to aid her mom. The 24/7 hotline has agents who speak 13 languages and offer support from financial assistance to referrals and second opinions.
The highlight of the night, Rivera said, is the luminaria light-up scheduled at 9 p.m. Attendees can buy lanterns, which they can customize, in person or ahead of time on the event’s website. Rivera said luminarias can be bought in memory of someone who lost a cancer battle, someone who currently is fighting or a caregiver.
At the end of the evening, the lights will go down, and luminarias will be staged around the track while attendees walk a silent lap after a slideshow memorial presentation. The night will come to a close with fireworks and the first lap in honor of next year’s event.
The relay has raised nearly $40,000, halfway to its $80,000 goal to help fund research and the road to recovery.
Rivera said she and her team will start setting up around the track at 8 a.m. Beyond fundraising, she said the most important goal after the 14-hour day is to have inspired hope.
“Medicine’s great, research is great, doctors are wonderful,” Rivera said. “But the support you get from walking around the track and knowing that you’re not alone, that there’s people here that are fighting for you and are there for you and are supporting you. Our survivors leave there on cloud nine.”
