HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Participants in last year's victory lap, the first lap of the American Caner Society Relay For Life, to be staged beginning at 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at Petrack Park. Advertisement

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is just around the corner and this celebration brings the Pahrump community together in a unified effort to help fight cancer.

Relay for Life involves teams of eight to 15 people taking turns walking the track at Petrack Park in recognition of cancer survivors and in honor of those who lost the battle.

The event takes place Aug. 16 beginning at 6 p.m. and will continue through the night until 6 a.m. the following morning.

The evening starts with a special dinner donated by local businesses for cancer survivors and caregivers. The meal is served on site.

Cancer survivors and their caregivers are invited to join in the first lap of the relay, the victory lap, as it is called. This is an emotional time and sets the stage for the importance of each participant's contribution.

When not on the track, teams camp out in tents while enjoying food, entertainment, games and prizes.

Another relay tradition includes the Luminaria Ceremony at 9 p.m., which recognizes cancer survivors and those who lost their lives to the disease. For many people this is one of the most moving parts of the event as the evening is brightened by the glow of lighted bags called luminaria. Some luminaria celebrate the survivorship of people who have battled cancer and lived to tell the tale. Many commemorate the lives of those who have been lost, but all represent a person who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to be touched by that experience. The donation for the luminaria is $10.

There are and have been fundraisers sponsored by local businesses and individual teams to help raise as much money as possible.

These efforts are ongoing.

Evergreen is selling chance drawings for a quilt on display in their lobby, and selling raffle tickets for three hours of weapons training by Robert Brentlinger, owner of Master at Arms.

Ace Hardware is having a garage sale every day until Aug. 12.

Hollywood Video is contributing a portion of all sales made Tuesdays to the fundraiser, and Valley Electric is sponsoring a power bill credit raffle. Tickets for the raffle will be sold for a donation of $2 each or three for $5. They will have one drawing per hour the night of the event for a total of 12 winners.

The denominations of the credits will be: two at $100; two at $50 and eight at $25, for a total of $500 in power bill credits.

Winners will be notified Monday, Aug. 18 and ticket holders do not have to be present to win.

Thus far, 25 teams totaling 573 people have registered to participate and $32,649.54 in donations have been raised.

Relay For Life is about celebration, remembrance and hope.

Participants will honor survivors, pay tribute to lost lives and raise money to help in the fight.

More information and ways to donate can be found on the Web site www.pahrumprelay.org.

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