Hundreds Relay For Life, take stand against cancer in Indio

After the Coachella Valley lost one of its brave and youngest cancer fighters this week, hundreds of people took a stand against the disease Saturday.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Indio at the Empire Polo Club drew in people of all ages to honor their loved ones fighting cancer and to remember those who passed away.

With heavy hearts, many people at the event and across the Coachella Valley remembered 6-year-old Desi Cechin after her fight against neuroblastoma.

Desi passed away on Wednesday evening at her home in Indio.

Relay participants and everyone at KESQ & CBS Local 2 send love and support to Desi’s family.

“It breaks my heart, especially because she lived in our neighborhood,” said cancer survivor Patty Silva. “My message to her mom is our thoughts are with her, our prayers are with her. Hopefully with this, knowing that we support her will help her get up and know that we love her here in the valley.”

The Relay For Life event raises money for the American Cancer Society to fund cancer research and provide free services to people battling cancer.