Relay for Life event set

Portales residents have the opportunity to join the battle against cancer April 13 -14 at the 15th annual American Cancer Society Portales Relay For Life.

According to Destiny Romero, American Cancer Society Portales Relay For Life event co-chair, 307 people were registered for the event Friday and more are registering.

Benna Sayyed: CMI photo

The American Cancer Society Portales Relay For Life is 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. April 13-14 at the Greyhound Arena. Event co-chair Destiny Romero said 307 people were registered as of Friday.

"There are many people in Portales who are affected by cancer who don't realize it," said event co-chair Mark Clark.

"You could put everyone in Portales in one room and ask them who is affected. Everyone is affected because "I know you, who knows him. It's a chain; everyone is connected in one way or another."

The event will help raise money in the fight against cancer, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society to help find a cure and provide wigs for cancer patients.

The relay will open with a luminaria ceremony, one of the event's largest activities, to honor people who have lost their battle with cancer or those who are still fighting the disease. During this ceremony, small paper bag lanterns with printed names of cancer patients will be illuminated. Romero said her staff is accepting pictures for paper lanterns this year. Each lantern costs five dollars.

Other activities include games such as dodgeball and basketball, a picture booth, face painting, concession stands, the Little Miss Relay Pageant and possibly a children's olympics. Also, local bands such as Everyday Mustache, Andy Mason, Calico Moon and Rockoholics Anonymous will perform.

"The concession stand is going to be really awesome this year," Romero said.

Romero said her committee is looking for cancer survivors to participate. She said survivors will do their own lap around the track and will be honored at the relay and in a special survivor dinner before at 5 p.m. at the Greyhound Arena.

"We've had a lot of well known people who have lost their battle," Romero said.

"A man from Dora just lost his battle last month. There are a lot of people around here who are affected by it."