This Year's Relay for Life to 'Band Together for a Cure'

Organizers for the Calabasas Relay for Life are promising lots of fun and suprises for this year's event, taking place at A.E. Wright Middle School May 18-19.

"For the first time, we will be featuring live bands," said Laura Saisse, event chair. "My husband, Philippe, asked if we could invite some top names to entertain this year."

Philippe Saisse, a 2010 Grammy nominee for Best Contemporary Jazz, has organized Band Together for a Cure, a special 2 hour smooth jazz concert that will take place on the middle school campus May 18 from 4-6 p.m.

Amongst those performing include Rayford Griffin, Dan Lutz, Philip Fiorio and R&B sensation DW3. Plus there will be special guest appearances, according to Laura.

"We're hoping to bring in new blood this year," she said of the 11th annual relay. "Which is why we want to make this fun and exciting."

In addition, food trucks will be on-hand to serve hungry participants.

"So far we have 48 teams, but we're always looking to add more," said Laura.

The goal this year is to raise over $165,000 in donations, according to Stephanie Williams, an event organizer and participant.

"This year we will also surpass the $1 million mark for our community over the past 11 years," said Williams.

Mayor Pro Tem David Shapiro, who lost his mother-in-law to cancer and whose uncle is currently battling the disease, says it's important to raise funds and awareness in the community so eventually a cure can be found.

"Its a fantastic celebration of life for those survivors," said Shapiro, who is team captain for the City of Calabasas team. "We also spend time remembering those who we have lost during the Luminaria. Cancer touches us all in some form or another."

The money raised by the event will go to the Road to Recovery Program, which offers patients free shuttle bus rides to and from treatments. Other programs include beauty counseling, free hotel lodging for patients, and breast cancer counseling services.

For more information and to sign up, go to www.relayforlife.org/calabasasca.