A week of Cancer Warriors events to touch your heart

“Get ready to party, to share, to listen and learn, to give and to have your heart touched forever during Cancer Warriors Week, Thursday, Oct. 2-Saturday, Oct. 11,” founder Marci Dickerson said.

Cancer Warriors was founded by Dickerson in 2023, after her successful fight against breast cancer. The other founding members of Cancer Warriors are Laura Pierce, Julie Gustafson, Roberta Flores and Kacee Benford. The program’s mission is to raise money and awareness to help in the battle against breast cancer and other women’s cancers in the community.

Here are some of the highlights of Cancer Warriors Week 2025:

• The Cancer Warrior’s Pink New Mexico State University football game and tailgate is Thursday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m., at Aggie Memorial Stadium on the NMSU campus. Come by the Cancer Warriors tent and get free tickets to the game, as the Aggies take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats. The tailgate is sponsored by Pathology Consultants of New Mexico.

• The Pinkout Las Cruces Public Schools football game features Mayfield High School playing Friday, Oct. 3, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Field of Dreams, 2300 Tashiro Drive. This event continues to spread cancer awareness to high schoolers and high school football fans alike, Dickerson said.

• Cancer Warriors Zumba begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road. Join in for a morning of fun and fitness. $20 is the suggested donation for participation. Anyone interested in being a vendor at this event can text 575-640-1211.

• A new event this year, Bingo for Boobs, is sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens Steinborn and Associates and is free to attend and open to everyone. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at The Game 1 Sports Bar and Grill, 2604 S. Espina St. During this “really fun game night and community event,” Dickerson said, players will fill their bingo cards with things like “annual mammogram” and “talk to your healthcare provider” instead of letters and numbers. Prizes will be awarded.

• Candles for Hope returns, beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Memorial Medical Center, 2405 S. Telshor Blvd. Come and decorate a luminaria (all materials will be provided) or bring one of your own, to dedicate to anyone touched by cancer. There is no charge to attend and participate.

• The highlight of Cancer Warriors Week is Bras for a Cause, sponsored by MMC. It will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at Farm and Ranch Museum. The party theme is “Greased Lightnin’.” Attendees are encouraged to dress in 1950s-style clothing as they dance to live ‘50s-style rock ‘n roll music by Las Cruces band Steppin’ Up. Auction items will include a custom painting by Abel Garcia and College World Series memorabilia worn by local baseball star Stephen “Monster” Milam to raise money for Cancer Warriors. There will also be 1950s diner food, carnival-style games, vintage automobiles and sock hop dance lessons provided by Sol Ballroom of Las Cruces. Tickets are $100 each or a table of 10 for $800, available on Eventbrite.

• Cancer Warriors Week 5K run and 1K walk will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, 3501 Arrowhead Drive on the NMSU campus. Cancer Warriors is partnering with Burrell’s OB-GYN students for this event, which is sponsored by MountainView Regional Medical Center. The cost is $10 per person. There will be vendors on sight and prizes will be awarded to run and walk participants.

Dickerson said 100 percent of the money raised during Cancer Warriors Week will stay in Doña Ana County.

To reserve a spot in the 5K or 1K, and for more information, text Dickeson at 575-644-0778. Visit.facebook.com/cancerwarriorslc.

This is the second in a two-part series on Cancer Warriors.