Relay to Raise Funds for Cancer Reseach

Moorpark’s annual Relay for Life will take place Saturday and Sunday at .

The American Cancer Society event, now in it’s 11th year here, raises money for cancer research and support. The more than 40 teams have a collective goal to exceed $140,000 in donations. Last year, Ventura County relays brought in more than $1.4 million. As of Friday afternoon, top Moorpark fundraisers have collected more than $36,000, according to figures listed on the event website.

According to the American Cancer Society, 94 cents of every dollar donated goes for research funding, cancer-fighting programs around prevention and early detection and free services to give cancer patients their best chance to get well and survive, as well as support for families, friends and care-givers that have lost loved ones to cancer.

The relay will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with cancer patients and survivors walking the opening lap. They will be followed by team members who will continue to walk the track, relay style, for 24 hours. When not walking, the team members and volunteers enjoy camaraderie, music, food, and other advocacy programs to support efforts to help stay well.

Annually, one of the most moving moments of the event comes as evening falls, said Dianiella Barragan, Relay for Life Manager, at a team registration event. At about 8 p.m., the track will be lined with luminaria bags lit from within with candles. The luminarias are purchased and decorated by supporters and are decorated in honor of cancer survivors and those lost to cancer. The luminaria candles are left burning until sunup.

According to the relay’s website, there will be a closing ceremony at 10 a.m. Sunday.