Local Relay for Life Event Raises Funds for Fight Against Cancer

By Misty Cryer

The celebration of cancer survivors and remembrance of those lost to cancer is something community members take to heart. The Relay for Life event begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2, and runs through 8 a.m. Saturday, May 3, at Lake Carlsbad Beach Park. This event raises funds to support the efforts of the American Cancer Society as well as bringing awareness to preventative measures for the early detection of cancer. Participants are encouraged to register for the event.

“We start off the event with an introduction, and then we have the survivors start the event with the actual walking,” said Angela Campos, Event Lead. She said the survivors usually have their caregiver or a family member walk with them during the first hour, which is dedicated to celebrating survivors.

“It is a fundraising event; it is a cancer awareness walk. The ones who are really there for it for them are the survivors,” said Campos.

Relay For Life raises funds for the American Cancer Society, she said. “The money goes towards cancer treatment, research, and the funding for patient resources,” she added.

Campos explained that the American Cancer Society funds cancer screening through a network, making it more accessible for people for early detection. She also mentioned that they help cancer patients with lodging and transportation when having cancer treatments, along with providing cancer research.

For the event, Campos said luminaria bags are available at Jill’s Fabric at 121 S. Canyon St. “We use those to line the track; they are $5. People buy them and decorate them in honor of somebody or in memory of somebody. When it gets dark, around 9 o’clock, we do a luminaria lighting ceremony. We put lights in bags, so they are there all night long. It’s really pretty,” she said.

“We will have live entertainment all night. J.J. Aguilar is going to be there,” said Campos, explaining the DJ will fill in between live performances. She also mentioned vendors, food and beverage vendors, and teams that will hand out donated water.

“We’re going to have a cornhole tournament,” she said, specifying that Chevron is sponsoring that. All events were not finalized by press time, but she indicated there will be more activities.

“We have a whole list of people that have been helping out,” said Campos about event sponsors. She said Kodiak plans to provide food at the event, speculating that it will be burgers and hot dogs. Event t-shirts were designed and printed by Empire Graphics. Other sponsors specifically mentioned include Stevens Inn, Western Commerce, Energy Transfer, Kymera, Chevron, Valley Field Services, Valley Transportation, Conoco Phillips, BDS Enterprises, Garden Mart, Intrepid, City of Carlsbad, Jill’s Fabric, Century 21-Dunagan Associates, Ocotillo Elementary, Forrest Tire, CNB Bank, Financial Security Credit Union, Elite Security, Southeast New Mexico College, and Carlsbad Heights Lions Club. “They are some of our bigger sponsors,” Campos said of the latter.

“We’re hoping it will be a good event that brings in a lot of people that come out and walk and stay for a while,” she said, adding, about 140 to 150 are registered. “We do have a lot of people who come out and don’t register, so we are pushing that everybody registers,” she said.

Information about the event is available on the Facebook page for Relay for Life Carlsbad, NM. Registration is available on the website (relayforlife.org/carlsbadnm).

“It is a celebration for the people that are still here, and we take the time to remember those that are gone. It’s a really good event to support the survivors, to support the caregivers, and to support the effort against cancer,” said Campos.

Photos from Local Relay for Life events.