VENTURA, CA: Thirteen area schools will be participating in Ventura's Tenth Annual Relay For Life at Buena High School on May 17th and 18th. Relay For Life is a fun and unique 24-hour event to increase cancer awareness in Ventura while raising much-needed funds for the American Cancer Society's programs and services. Teams composed of up to 12 people formed by local businesses, community groups and individuals raise funds prior to the event. At the Relay, team members take turns walking or running around a track, relay style and enjoy fun activities and entertainment off the track.

The Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event, happening in more than 4,500 communities across the country. In California, more than 315 communities will host Relay For Life events. Relay For Life empowers communities to take part in the fight against cancer while honoring survivors and remembering those lost to the disease. Funds raised go to the American Cancer Society's patient service programs, cancer research, advocacy and community education.

For the past two months, the local schools have been preparing for this event. Many have held school wide fundraisers, bake sales, garage sales, car washes, restaurant fundraisers and even collected quarters for the cause. They have also gathered decorations for their campsites. Every Relay event has a theme. This year's theme is music. All the teams pick different music themes that range from a specific group to an era of music to decorate their campsite. This turns into a friendly competition among the schools.

"The Ventura Unified School District is always a huge participant in the Relay For Life; the schools always bring a competitive spirit to the Relay. We look forward to having them each year," Catherine Pulisic, Lead Manager of the Gold Coast and Los Angeles Region stated. The Ventura Unified School District is not the only school district to participate this year. Oxnard Union High School District and The Los Angeles Archdiocese also have teams entered.The thirteen schools are: Blanche Reynolds, Junipero Serra with two teams, Mound, Poinsettia and Sunset Elementary Schools; Anacapa, Cabrillo and Balboa Middle Schools; Buena, Foothill Technology with two teams, Pacifica, Santa Clara and Ventura High Schools. Ventura High School has four teams participating in this year's event.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Terra Gale, Event Manager at The American Cancer Society office (805) 278- 6103 or by email at Terra.Gale@cancer.org for more information about Ventura's Relay For Life or for Relay events happening throughout the country.