HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Kaylee Lacasse-Mathan, a 3-year-old struggling with kidney cancer, made sure she took part in the weekend Relay for Life. She was among numerous victims and survivors who took part in the annual fundraiser. Advertisement

Norma Soltero's eyes filled with tears when she described how a bald, eight-year-old cancer patient had come up and asked if she could have her hair.

So Soltero, an employee of Pahrump Family Dental, put her hair up in 24 strands and cut them off, one by one, for a $10 donation each at least weekend's Relay for Life event, the annual American Cancer Society fundraiser.

By eight o'clock Saturday night, she only had about 10 strands left.

She kept the hair in a shoebox and donated it to Pantene, which makes wigs for cancer patients.

Soltero, along with her husband, German Reyes, also happened to be decked out as a pirate.

That's because the theme of this year's relay was "An Evening with the Stars," and each business or community organization picked out a movie for their booth or team's theme.

Pahrump Family Dental's team chose "Pirates of the Caribbean.".

Meanwhile, the Pahrump Soroptomists were decked out in sunflower hats in keeping with their choice of "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood."

A few feet away from their booth, participants and visitors could have their picture taken with Johanna V., dressed up like Audrey Hepburn, in keeping with a booth sponsored by friends and family of Wilma Palmer, whose movie theme was "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

Various characters from the "Star Wars" movie series were also on hand, thanks to the 501st Storm Trooper Legion, a nonprofit organization that brings actors dressed as the characters to various charity events.

First Move Fitness got into the spirit of things and had Christmas decorations set up to show off their movie selection of "It's a Wonderful Life."

And through it all, each of the 17 teams that participated had at least one member walking around the track, for 24 hours straight, in an attempt to raise $75,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Butch Davies, a cancer survivor walking for Valley Electric's team, kept going for 12 straight hours.

And the efforts of Manon Rodriguez, the committee's event chair, and all the participants and volunteers who helped with the Relay more than paid off.

Pahrump not only met its goal but raised over $80,000 for American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy and service programs, the highest amount raised in all of Southern Nevada.

This year's relay was dedicated to Fran Stratton, a long-time resident of Pahrump who succumbed to cancer several months ago after her sixth relapse at the age of 81.

Stratton was heavily involved with local events and the community, and she was sorely missed by all who knew her.

The 24-hour event began Saturday evening at 6 p.m. and continued through Sunday night, as team members walked around the track to live music, and organizations sold a variety of treats.

At 9 p.m. Saturday, the relay took a more somber turn when all the lights were turned off and 600 purchased Luminaria bags were lit.