You can make a difference in the fight against cancer by forming a team for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Long Beach. Relay for Life is an overnight event that invites the Long Beach community to take part in the fight against cancer while honoring its survivors and remembering loved ones lost to the disease.

On April 22 and 23, more than 50 teams, comprised of people who live, work or study in the Long Beach area, will take turns walking or running around CSULB's Jack Rose Track for 24 hours (that's 24 consecutive hours from 6 p.m. to 6 p.m.). The public is welcome to come fill the stands and cheer on participants as they raise funds for cancer research, community education, legislative advocacy and patient service programs.

Volunteers can help support the relay in the following ways:

• Form a team from family, co-workers, or your favorite community organization
• Join an existing team
• Raise money by purchasing a luminaria for the Luminary ceremony on Friday evening
• Donate food or water to help the walkers during the event
• Donate money

If you are a cancer survivor, please join us for an exclusive reception honoring you and celebrating your success in the fight against cancer. The reception will be held at the track on Friday, April 22, at 5 p.m. In addition to the reception, survivors will kick off the event by walking the first lap of the relay beginning at 6 p.m.

During the Luminaria ceremony Friday night at 8:30 p.m., each light honors the community's cancer survivors and commemorates those lost to the disease. Walkers will circle the track rimmed with glowing luminarias while the names of survivors and those lost to the disease are read aloud. Luminarias can be purchased for $10.

Relay team registration is currently in progress. Team registration is $150. To learn more about the Long Beach Relay For Life and to find out how you can get involved, please call Reva at 562/529-6200, ext. 2. Or you can register a team or join an existing team by signing up at its Web site.