While the 2025 edition of the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, Relay For Life, closed out its calendar year at the end of June, volunteers with ACS in the Greater Central Valley area are still busy.

Scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12, it’s the kickoff event for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, which will be hosted in October at Modesto Junior College. The kickoff will be at MJC West on Blue Gum Avenue in Modesto and will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Those interested in taking part in the October Strides walk are encouraged to attend; enjoy food, beverages, fun activities, guest speakers and more. Kaiser Permanente is presenting sponsor for Making Strides of San Joaquin Valley, which has a set goal of raising $150,000 this year. The actual Strides walk will be hosted from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 12, at the MJC West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., Modesto. Over $39,400 has already been raise in support of the Strides walk.

Also, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Greater Central Valley is putting on its annual Survivor and Caregiver Luncheon later this month. That gathering is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., hosted at 1800 Baldwin Ave., Hughson.

There will be food, prize drawings, special speakers and moving tributes; all cancer survivors and their caregivers are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information or to RSVP, contact Selina at 209-505-7242.

The website for the Relay For Life of Greater Central Valley, the 2026 edition, is officially up and running, with participants able to register and start their fundraising. The 2026 Relay will be hosted at Johansen High School in mid-May; over $3,500 has already been raised.