Superheros help kids battling cancer

Everyday tasks can be challenging for children with cancer and their families in addition to meeting the financial burdens of medical treatment and related care. Bridging the gap and making a profound difference in their lives is the mission of local nonprofit Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, whose programs provide emotional assistance, quality of life and financial support.

One of organization’s largest fundraisers is the Superhero 5K with Chet Buchanan on Sept. 10 at Exploration Park in the Mountain’s Edge master-planned community. Prepare now to be a superhero to these kids and families. Invite friends, neighbors, co-workers and family to form a fundraising team. Run the 5K or do the 1-mile walk, make a superhero costume to wear, or attend the event and cheer on the racers, walkers and cancer survivors.

In keeping with the event theme, attendees — and well-behaved leashed pets — are encouraged to dress as superheroes, reflective of the courage kids with cancer exhibit every day. Other activities will include a kids area with a bounce house and games, bone marrow drive hosted by Be The Match, awards ceremony for timed runners, food, refreshments and raffle prizes. Attendees also can enjoy the amenities at Exploration Park, including picnic areas, playgrounds, water play area, walking trails, replicas of a western town and Indian village, archaeology dig site and more.

Key registration dates are:

■ Online: Teams may register at candlelightersnv.org by 5 p.m. Sept. 7. Individual online registration ends at 5 p.m. Sept. 9.

■ In person: At the Candlelighters office by Sept. 7 during Packet Pick-Up from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or on race day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

■ By mail: Postmarked by Sept. 1 to Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada, 8990 Spanish Ridge Ave., Ste. 100, Las Vegas, NV 89148

Participants will have the opportunity to win prizes based on fundraising levels. Also, school, family and organization teams that raise more than $5,000 will be invited to the VIP area — new this year — featuring shaded areas with seating, breakfast and more.

Event-day registration begins at 6:30 a.m.; the race starts at 8 a.m. with the walk at 8:15 a.m., and festivities until 11 a.m.

The Superhero 5K with Chet Buchanan is sponsored by Centennial Toyota, Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community and The Revolution FMO. It is part of Candlelighters’ observance of September’s designation as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the shineGOLD community awareness campaign in which the public is encouraged to wear gold, change lightbulbs to gold/yellow, exhibit gold at work or school, and use the @shineGOLD or @showyourgold hashtags and challenge others to participate.

Visit candlelighersnv.org or call 702-737-1919 for more information, registration, and volunteer and participation opportunities.