Preparations are underway for the 2016 Relay for Life event to be held at Virgin Valley High School April 15 at 6 p.m. through 9 a.m. the next morning.

Last year, the event raised just over $20,000. This year, the committee hopes to raise even more.

The event features several popular activities including a Survivor’s dinner and special walk as well as a Luminaria Ceremony. The committee is exploring other activities as well, including karaoke and other music to keep the energy elevated throughout the early morning hours. They are also planning to return a silent auction this year to raise funds.

“This year’s enthusiasm and willingness to help is just phenomenal,” stated Shirley West, Co-Chairman of the event. West’s Co-Chairman is Jeff Powell, who also works with the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce.

The Eureka Casino Resort has already promised to bring four teams to this year’s event on top of their generous sponsorship and assistance with organizing and providing a meeting place for the committee.

The committee is always seeking more ideas, volunteers and sponsors and the public is welcome to participate in the planning. The next meeting for the event will be on Feb. 29 at 6 p.m. inside the Town Square area of the Eureka Casino, 275 Mesa Blvd.

Teams for the walk are being sought, as well as sponsors. For information and materials, go to www.relayforlife.org/mesquitenv. Cancer survivors and those wishing to make a donation are also encouraged to sign up at the website. West confirmed that survivors who sign up on the website will not be put on a mailing list but will be invited to participate in special activities during the event.

To help with this year’s event, the Mesquite Local News will be dedicating a special online section under Annual Events that will contain all of the information as time progresses. Take a look today at https://mesquitelocalnews.com/category/annual-events/relay-for-life/