LATHROP –  Angelina Navarro-Mays is looking for not just a few talented people.

The more, the better as far as she is concerned. After all, she wants these individuals to display their talents and help a philanthropic cause at the same time – saving the lives of cancer victims and eradicating this deadly disease once and for all through research.

Navarro-Mays, who is the entertainment co-chairperson for the first ever 24-hour Lathrop Relay for Life starting this Saturday, Aug. 29, wants to invite all types of performers to sign up for the Relay’s Got Talent portion of this round-the-clock fund-raiser to be held at Lathrop High School.
“Can you sing? Dance? Juggle? Tell a good joke? This talent competition is open to all acts of all ages,” she announced in an e-mail she sent to the Bulletin.

The talent show, which will award prizes to the top three acts, will begin at 1 p.m.

This live entertainment also will not be the only attraction featured at this event. Kicking off the event will be a special breakfast at the school prepared and served in honor of the day’s special guests – the cancer survivors. Sign-ups for this special meal may be made at Big Dan’s Neighborhood Diner owned by Dan Mac Neilage, the chairman of the Lathrop Relay for Life. The restaurant is located at Towne Centre Drive just behind Target Store at Mossdale Landing in Lathrop.

Other attractions will be the various information and feature booths that will be located in the breezeways around the quad area of Lathrop High School where the Relay walk and the touching evening luminaria – when candles will be lighted in honor of cancer survivors and cancer victims – will be held.
The purpose of the American Cancer Society’s Relays for Life is not only to raise the public’s awareness to this disease and the research that is ongoing to eradicate it, but also to generate donations to cancer research.

In addition to sponsorships raised by Relay participants, Navarro-Mays said the Lathrop Relay has also partnered with Jamba Juice in Manteca to raise money for the event. This philanthropic partnership started on Friday, Aug. 21, and will continue through Saturday, Aug. 29. Navarro-Mays said one need only purchase any of the menu items at Jamba Juice, located at 2160 Daniels Street Stadium Center in Manteca or at the Jamba Juice booth at the Lathrop Relay.
“Mention American Cancer Society Relay for Life Lathrop and 20 percent of your entire purchase will be donated,” Navarro-Mays said.

To register for Lathrop Relay’s Got Talent, call Navarro-Mays at (209) 450-2092 or log on to lathropsgottalent@yahoo.com.

Navarro-Mays said all contestants must complete a waiver and pay a $5 registration fee.

For additional details about the Lathrop Relay for Life, call Mac Neilage at (209) 594 6683, or stop by Big Dan’s Neighborhood Diner at Towne Centre Drive behind Target Store at Mossdale Landing.