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Tireless in her efforts to help those in need, resident Lonnie Knight last week was named the 2008 Milpitas Citizen of the Year.

The Knights of Columbus Council 5796 recognized Knight as a person who has given unselfishly to the community of Milpitas. She will be recognized along with Milpitas' Police Officer and Firefighter of the Year at the Knights of Columbus 34th annual Awards Dinner in April.

On being named Citizen of the Year, this week Knight said, "It was an absolute surprise."

Knight, a 49-year-old Milpitan who moved to the city in 1989, has been involved with local charitable groups at the schools for many years.

Since 2000, Knight is perhaps best known as a lead volunteer and co-organizer for Milpitas' annual Relay For Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Knight, the event's co-chair along with Bill Weisgerber and Laurel Rogers, devotes months each year toward bringing the two-day event to the Milpitas Sports Center each June. The event raises funds to benefit cancer victims and help find a cure for the disease.

"Over the past eight relays, we've raised well over $831,000 for the fight against cancer, right here in Milpitas," she said.

But Knight readily gives much of the credit for the accomplishment to others, including area schools, churches, companies, the city, and the teams of people who pack the Milpitas Sports Center each year.

She added in 2002 the Relay for Life had 12 to 15 teams. Last year, she said 60 teams

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participated in the overnight event.

"We've had a tremendous amount of support, and it has sort of spread by word of mouth," she said. "It's a huge effort and everybody puts forth."

In 2008, Knight said she expects to raise even more.

"Our goal this year is to raise $150,000 to $175,000," she said.

Knight said her involvement in Relay For Life stems from the fight several of her own family members and friends have waged. One person was her 60-year-old brother, who succumbed to the effects of cancer 15 months ago.

"I've seen how devastating the fight against cancer is," she said of a disease that kills more than half a million Americans annually. "I just hope that we make some sort of difference."

Knight participates in other ways in the community.

Each year, during the holiday season, Knight helps support the Milpitas Food Pantry as well as the Jack Emery Food Drive. She takes an active role with the Milpitas Kiwanis Club and takes part in ChildSpree twice a year at Mervyn's.

Child Spree provides clothing, backpacks, school supplies and breakfast to needy children in Milpitas.

Over the years, Knight has been involved as the Parent-Teacher-Student Association president at Milpitas High School. Also, Knight has been a personal mentor for several at-risk youth here.

Marsha Grilli, vice president of the Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education, said she admires Knight's willingness to devote her time and energy to the community in schools as well as at the Relay For Life.

"Lonnie's the kind of person you like to work with," Grilli said. "She's not looking for anything, she just does what she thinks is right."

Grilli added she has mainly worked with Knight on the Relay For Life.

"Lonnie's one of the people, if you ask her to do something she's going to follow through; she's going to put in more than 100 percent," Grilli said. "And she makes everything a little bit of fun."

This week, Knight summed up her philosophy on giving back to the community.

"You just sort of see where you can help, and you go for it," she said.

The April 13 awards dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. at Pavalkis Hall, St. John's Parish, 279 S. Main St., Milpitas. For more information, call event chairperson Lou Horyza at 263-8779 or e-mail loupegh@aol.com.