Mark Stephenson, 60, was living in Santa Maria 21 years ago when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer - which spread to his ureter and his kidneys. Forty-eight operations followed.

Stephenson still has cancer, mostly because it goes in and out of remission. He can go on a soapbox and talk forever about treatment, he said. But he won't.

Instead, Stephenson and his wife of 12 years, Virginia, walked around the St. Joseph High School track Saturday at the ninth annual Relay for Life - a nationwide fundraiser that draws many to walk and show their sense of optimism.

“Fifty percent is mental,” he said about fighting cancer. “You can't beat cancer without a positive attitude.”

The 24-hour walk started Saturday morning with a ceremony and the “survivors' walk,” in which some 300 cancer survivors completed one lap around the track. By this morning, organizers expected to raise $365,000 from donations.

Organizers this year also added a new way people can donate money by challenging people to complete a ring of quarters around the stretch of the track.

“Hopefully that'll bring an extra $2,000 or $3,000,” said Janet Davila, event chairwoman.

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About 80 teams - an average of 10 walkers per team - signed up and donated money to walk this year, Davila said. Last year, some 1,400 walkers raised $336,000. Nationally, the event raises millions.

The funds pay for education, research, service and transportation provided to patients. And thanks to those funds, getting diagnosed with cancer doesn't equate a death sentence, says Dr. Monica Rocco, a breast cancer surgeon at Marian Medical Center.

Today's technology and treatments have allowed surgeons like her to give good news to breast cancer patients, she said.

“Stage 1 patients have a 95 percent, or better, chance of survival,” she said. “The sooner the detection, the better the chance of survival.”

She credited public outreach and modern mammography to such a high survival rate even though it is the deadliest type of cancer among women, according to the American Cancer Society.

Even those who've never been stricken by cancer are surprised when someone close to them - let alone, a varsity high school quarterback - is diagnosed.

St. Joseph varsity quarterback Chase Sanders, 17, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in October, a day after the team defeated an opponent.

“It was a shock to all of us,” said Drew Sanders, 16, Chase's brother. “We didn't think it would happen to any of us.”

Chase returned from Duarte on Friday after undergoing intense treatment. He stayed home for most of Saturday because he was feeling tired, said head coach Mike Hartman. To show his support, several members of the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams showed up to walk.

“As much fun as it is to walk around all day, the point of this is to raise money,” he said after one freshman handed him a $10 bill. “It's good for our kids to understand that there are things bigger than them and important to this community.”

A nine-year football coach at St. Joseph, Hartman has seen his share of students get tackled hard, but has never seen one tackled by cancer.

“No one should have to deal with this, let alone a 17-year-old kid,” he said. “His attitude, however, has been absolutely amazing.”

Survivors and supporters alike paced with leis and music playing throughout the day. Cancer survivors exchanged stories and laughs underneath the “survivor's tent.”

Taking a lunch break, Stephenson explained that he drove from his home in Riverside County for a second year in a row to come for one purpose: to recharge his spirits.

“It's all right here,” he said, curling one fist and tapping it over his chest.

Luis Ernesto Gomez can be reached at 739-2218, or lgomez@santamariatimes.com

July 22, 2007