If you passed over the Rainbow Bridge or were on the recreational trails along Lake Natoma on Saturday evening, you likely saw a sight to behold. The call for all witches and wizards last week proved successful, as hundreds turned out for the annual Witches on the Lake event to support the fight against childhood cancer.
Organized by local resident and realtor Janay Taua, this marked the third year participants gathered at Black Miners Bar beach to launch their paddleboards, dressed in spooky witch or wizard attire. In its first year, the event drew about 100 participants, nearly doubled in its second year, and this time, some 400 people had signed up as of late Friday.
The event is more than just dressing in fun costumes and hitting the lake at sunset. It’s for an important cause—supporting a young Fair Oaks hero who has been battling childhood cancer for three years and is the inspiration behind the fundraiser. All proceeds benefit Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, a local nonprofit.
Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance provides financial, emotional, and educational support to children with cancer and their families, while also building awareness and raising funds for a cure.
“Three years ago, a friend and local family received the unimaginable news that their daughter had been diagnosed with a rare cancer—clear cell sarcoma. Inspired by their challenge, I envisioned a community gathering to uplift this cause,” Taua.explained in her reason behind starting the event three years ago.
Saturday’s event was fun for all ages, with trick-or-treating on and off the lake for children. Many kids joined their adult family members or friends on the water, contributing to the festive and spooky scene that drew onlookers from all around the lake.
Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance was founded after Robyn and Kyle Raphael’s son, Keaton, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system, in June 1997. Over the next nine months, Keaton underwent aggressive treatment. The family discovered a cutting-edge clinical trial at Boston Children’s Hospital, which offered a 70% chance of survival. With help from UC Davis Children’s Hospital and Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, they began a treatment program for Keaton.
In December 1997, Keaton underwent a double bone marrow transplant after six cycles of chemotherapy, surgery to remove his abdominal tumor, and a lifetime dose of radiation.
On Feb. 20, 1998, after a nine-month battle, Keaton passed away from complications related to his second transplant. His parents remember him as their “Hero of Heroes,” who fought courageously for his life and earned his angel wings.
In his memory, Robyn and Kyle created the Keaton Raphael Memorial, now known as Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance. Despite their personal heartbreak, the Raphaels’ journey opened their eyes—and those of many supporters—to the struggles families face when a child has cancer and the urgent need to find a cure. Keaton’s legacy continues to bring hope to countless children and families, fueling research efforts to win the fight against childhood cancer.
