The kick-off event for the annual Relay for Life, held at Petrack Park to raise money for the American Cancer Society, will be held a little earlier this year, Tuesday, March 27, at 1 p.m. in the Bob Ruud Community Center.

"We're going to get a head start this year to raise more money so we can find a cure," Manon Rodriguez said.

The kick-off event is a way for people interested in becoming team captains to get more information about forming teams and raising funds.

The event will feature a guest speaker, door prizes, food and refreshments.

In addition to the kickoff event, a training workshop for team captains, which Rodriguez jokingly referred to as "team captain boot camp," will be held April 21 in the Bob Ruud Community Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Relay for Life will be held Aug. 18 and 19 of this year.

The goal for the relay this year is to raise $75,000 for the American Cancer Society, a fifty percent increase from last year's goal of $50,000.

The race will be dedicated to Fran Stratton, a resident of Pahrump for the last twenty years who succumbed to cancer last week after her sixth relapse at the age of 81.

Stratton was a frequent volunteer for community events and as Rodriguez put it, "a wonderful spirit."

The theme of this year's relay is "An Evening with the Stars," and feature movie theater food and events.

In this case, however, the stars are cancer survivors.

Teams are made up of a minimum of 10 people, and there is a $10 registration fee for each team member.

In addition to the relay itself, the event also features entertainment all night, food and refreshments, and booths selling goods.

All of the proceeds from the event will go the American Cancer Society.