DELRAY BEACH - Angel Hernandez had a goal: raise $100 in a week to fight cancer. "I feel like everybody . . . has been touched by cancer, and we need to put an end to it," Hernandez, 13, of Delray Beach, said. "I knocked on five of my neighbors’ doors and got $7 from one woman, $5 from another, $10 from another and one woman gave me $25. One man even gave me a check for $50."

Two hours later, Hernandez reached his goal, which each member of his mentoring group also agreed to raise.

On Friday night, Hernandez and the other boys who comprise the Knights of Pythagoras Mentoring Network will celebrate at an all-night party at Old School Square in Delray Beach. The xx annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, an overnight event that celebrates survivorship and raises money for research and programs, is set for March 31 and April 1 from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m.

To date, Hernandez and his fellow Knights have raised just over $500, said Robert Dodd, program manager for the Knights of Pythagoras Mentoring Network, a local group which serves boys ages 7-17.

"Not all of the boys raised the required $100," Dodd said. "Some raised anywhere between $5 and $60."

The boys will be selling water, sodas, granola bars and peanuts at the event, which is free and open to the public, he added.

"We have to sell a lot of water and sodas to reach our overall goal of $1,000 but we’re going to reach it," said Hernandez, who co-chaired the fund-raiser for his group. The local race has a goal of $123,000, said officials with the Boca Raton officers of the American Cancer Society.

Each team pays a $100 fee to participate, then selects a theme, constructs a campsite and dons costumes to illustrate the theme. The event has a carnival-like atmosphere, and all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

The event will begin with registration for cancer survivors from 4 to 5 p.m. The opening ceremony will be held at 5 p.m., followed by a survivor’s lap, a triumphant march by cancer survivors.

Each survivor will carry a balloon, Dodd said, which will be released after the lap to signify his or her release from cancer. The second lap will include caretakers and family members, and the third lap will include the teams.

Afterward, a survivors tent will provide refreshments, motivational speakers and games for family members and caregivers.

Luminary bags marked in memory of cancer victims or in honor of survivors can be sponsored for a donation of $10 each. The bags will be lighted at a 9 p.m. ceremony, when all lights on the grounds will be turned off and sponsors traditionally stand by luminary bags donated in honor of loved ones.

There also will be enough music, events and food to keep people going all night to support the cause, Dodd, a Boynton Beach resident, said.

"By supporting the event, you support the people who have fought back or are still fighting cancer," Dodd said.

For the first time since the government began keeping national death statistics in 1930, the number of cancer deaths in the US has fallen as improvements in diagnosis, therapy and prevention have finally overtaken increases caused by aging and population growth, according to the American Cancer Society, which recently released and analysis.

The number of deaths declined by only a sliver - just 369 out of more than half a million between 2002 and 2003, the latest years for which data are available.

The number of cancer deaths in women actually increased by 409 in 2003, but that growth was offset by a decline of 778 in men, for a net decrease of 369 cases, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md.

Prostate cancer incidence has been rising and falling irregularly over the past decade as a result of changes in testing, but prostate cancer deaths have been falling steadily, to an estimated 20,360 this year.

Research suggests black men are at greatest risk. According to the American Cancer Society, black men have a 60 percent greater chance of developing prostate cancer than white men. Throughout the night, teams will assemble campsites around the grounds to celebrate, raise money and for friendly competitions, Dodd said.

"Every campsite will have something for the public," he said. "Some will sell food, some will have a parade of prizes, and some will have activities."

Money also goes to the society’s advocacy program, which helps lobby government officials for cancer patients’ rights.

The event is held in more than 3,000 communities nationwide.

For information or to donate a case of bottled water or soda, call Dodd at 877-91-KOPMN or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or the American Cancer Society at 561-394-7751, ext. 112.