Local Relay for Life events to raise money for cancer research

Christine Kaminska with Colleges Against Cancer lights the luminarias that were placed around the UNLV Academic Field as part of the American Cancer Society?s Relay for Life event held at the campus, April 10.Jim MIller/view Jim MIller/ViewUNLV students Bethany Bachman, Travis Proctor, Casey Barbie and Cesar Zarate participate in the Relay for Life event held at UNLV on April 10. Advertisement

Cancer survivors, their friends and family members from around the valley are getting together throughout April and May to bring awareness to the fight against the disease.

"Cancer touches everyone," said Gail Skolnik, a survivor. "I don't know anyone who isn't either affected themselves or knows someone who is affected."

Groups around the Las Vegas Valley will be participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. The events, which began earlier this month, are held overnight for about 12 hours. Teams set up camp sites and raise money while at least one member is on the track for the entire time.

Kimberly Fairchild, a survivor and the South Valley Relay chairwoman, said that a few years ago, there was a team that put its lawn chairs on the track and sat there for the entire time.

"They were following the rules, though," Fairchild said.

Most teams take turns walking the track. There are poker laps, dance laps and crazy hat laps. While participants are walking, other team members man booths selling food and raffle tickets, and others rest.

This year, the South Valley relay has a holiday theme. Each of the 34 teams will represent a different holiday from Christmas to National Snack Food Day. The events feature live entertainment, a Miss Relay Beauty Pageant for the men, games and plenty of prizes.

The prizes include anything from weekend trips, dinners, cruises and show tickets. This year, Skolnik's team is raffling a slot machine from IGT.

"This is for public awareness," Fairchild said. "It's a community disease. It doesn't affect one age or one race. But we want the event to be fun, too."

All the money raised at the relays will stay in Nevada. Skolnik, who has participated in the event for the past three years, said her team of about 10 raised more than $10,000 last year. In 2007, Southern Nevada relay events raised $500,000.

The relays are held overnight to remind people that cancer never sleeps.

"I can't wait for the day our grandkids will say, 'Remember that plague, cancer? It was big back then,' " Fairchild said.

A luminaria ceremony is held once it's dark. Candles are placed inside bags and set up along the track. Anyone can purchase a luminaria for $10 in memory of a loved one. Participants then have about 20 minutes to walk the track and reflect on their fight and people who have lost their battle.

The relays kick off with a survivors victory lap. Only survivors are on the track for the first lap of the night.

A survivor's dinner will be donated by local restaurants at the beginning of each relay. All cancer survivors are invited, you do not need to register for the dinner.

"This is a great event because it covers all types of cancer," Skolnik said. "It's an opportunity to get together with other survivors and share stories and give each other hope."

Teams, which usually have about 10 people but Fairchild said can be as small as three people, can register for $10 per person up to the day before the event. The community is invited to come out and participate in the raffles and games. There will be bounce houses and carnivals for kids and plenty of food for sale.

For more information, visit www.cancer.org.