Public invited to join tonight’s Marianas March Against Cancer

The Commonwealth Cancer Association’s 2014 Marianas March Against Cancer kicks off tonight, May 2, at the Hopwood Junior High School field, with 11 teams competing to post the highest number of laps around the oval.
The signature fundraising event of the non-profit group will start tonight at 5:30pm and end tomorrow morning, Saturday, at 6am, with various teams marching, running, and dancing around the track in honor of cancer survivors and victims.

Manny Borja, 2014 MMAC overall committee chairman, said: “We hope that the public will join us tonight, to honor our loved ones and help our teams raise funds for this important cause. Teams will also be selling food, hosting games, and selling goods to raise money for this event.”

The event will start with the opening ceremony at 5:30pm, with opening prayers, posting of colors by the Manta Ray Battalion, and the singing of the U.S. and CNMI national anthems by 2013 CNMI’s Got Talent winner Bernice Sabino, followed by an invocation by San Jose Parish pastor Fr. Rey Rosal.

Saipan Mayor Donald Flores will provide the opening remarks, followed by the survivor recognition ceremony with the presentation of medallions.

Saipan Senior Citizen Advisory Council president Maria Salinas will be the inspirational speaker, followed by the survivors’ lap, when cancer survivors walk around the track once.

The luminary ceremony will follow at 6:30pm, then the parade of teams at 7pm.

Teams for tonight’s 2014 MMAC include Mount Carmel School, Talabwoogh Star, Aschoscho, Pacific Islands Club, Kagman High School with Tan Holdings, Bodig, Joeten Dolphins, GOP Youth, MBA, IT&E with Saipan Southern High School, and Takecare FHP with Grace Christian Academy.

According to 2014 MMAC committee co-chair L.J. Castro, entertainment will begin at 7:30pm, coinciding with the start of the relay race.

Among the groups that are scheduled to provide non-stop entertainment are the Te Kanahau Nui Dancers of Saipan, Keynotes School of Music, Jesus is Lord Church, MHS PEP Band, Latte Vibes, Marvin Deleon Guerrero, Spirit Tug-O-War, Parker Yobei, and DJ Davy G.

Closing ceremonies will be at 5:30am that includes acknowledgements from the 2014 MMAC committee, presentation of awards for best batons and tent, most spirit, laps, and luminaries sold, awards for most money raised awards and a benediction from team Take Care FHP and GCA.

The event will have its “Walk of Life” at 6am.
Borja said the committee, sponsors, and teams have put in a lot of effort into making this event happen and they hope the community will take part.

“We hope the community come and honor our survivors and those who have passed from cancer,” Borja said.

This year’s MMAC title sponsors are Bank of Guam, Delta Air Lines, DFS Saipan, Ltd., GPPC, Island Apparel, IT &E, Joeten Daidai Foundation, Marianas Variety, Sorensen Media Group, and Take Care/FHP. Its major sponsors are Brabu Pharmacy, Docomo Pacific, First Hawaiian Bank, IP&E, McDonald’s of Saipan, Precision Medical Imaging, Saipan Mayor’s Office, Traders Insurance Co., and Xerox Corp. (Jayson Camacho)