A tally of participants wasn't immediately available but in addition to online registration (with participants in twelve states and ten countries on five continents), there was brisk on-site registration.

LBREPORT.com provided LIVE webcast coverage and has on-demand video now.

The event began with a torch run by Thayer familymembers from Newcomb Academy to Patrick Henry Elementary School, in which parents Lance and Jennifer both participated. On arriving at Henry Elementary, Mr. Thayer lit two flames from the torch...for Breanna and Jalen.

A few minutes later, with Mrs. Thayer at his side, Mr. Thayer addressed the crowd. He noted that this year's 3rd annual event includes the phrase "For Childhood Cancer Awareness" to point out how common childhood cancer is. (A dispatch on the Have Faith, Be Strong Facebook page notes that during the recent the three day holiday weekend, roughly 21 children were taken by childhood cancer...including Bella and Brennan.)

Mr. Thayer introduced Lauren Valdez, a cancer survivor diagnosed with a sarcoma at age 14, who described her decision to have her leg amputated. Ms. Valdez also described her meeting with Jalen at a 2010 event for children with cancer.

After the Thayer family lost their only daughter, Breanna, to brain cancer at age 4, their eldest son Jalen received a diagnosis of brain cancer at age 13. A 4.0 GPA student at Newcomb K-8 Academy who had witnessed his sister's cancer journey, Jalen waged a consistently optimistic and inspiring battle against his illness with the phrase "Have Faith, Be Strong." In early April 2011, just days after attending an event at which the entire Newcomb student body, teachers and administrators assembled to rename the school's athletic field in his honor, Jalen passed away at age 15.

In the Patrick Henry school auditorium, a video collage (with music) displayed photos of the Thayer family with Jalen and Breanna.

Breanna, Samuel, Bailey, Jalen, Mom & Dad at La Jolla Beach in 2003

Jalen, Breanna and their Mom in 2004

In the cafeteria, text pages -- unflinchingly written -- described Breanna's and Jalen's lives and their journeys (photo shows volunteers putting the text pages up). [Photos taken June 7 as volunteers set up the event's displays.]

Additional pages described physical, emotional and financial tolls inflicted by childhood cancers nationally, and the relatively small sums currently spent for treatments and cures.

Saturday's event benefits Have Faith, Be Strong, an organization created by Mr. and Mrs. Thayer in honor and memory of Jalen & Breanna. The group's stated mission is to increase awareness of childhood cancer and help children diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and their families go through their struggles together. The Thayers are awaiting IRS non-profit status determination for the organization.

A number of Long Beach businesses stepped up and assisted in co-sponsoring the event.

Among those traveling to Long Beach take part in the event was a contingent of runners from Minnesota, including friends of Mrs. Thayer.

Also spotted in the crowd (wearing a runner's tag to run in one of the races) was Gavin McKiernan, founder and boardmember of the Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation.

To our knowledge, LBREPORT.com was the only media outlet on-scene to cover this event.