By Jason KUROSU

This weekend La Crescenta and Montrose residents may find an unusual preponderance of purple footprints scattered about town leading up to the May 14 Relay for Life.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is coming and in preparation, Foothill’s Relay for Life is painting the town purple (purple being the international color for cancer.)

On Saturday morning, members will meet in front of Rocky Cola Café at the corner of Ocean View and Honolulu Avenue to commence the painting of the footprints.

“We’ll start at Rocky Cola Café around 7:45 in the morning,” said Paula Warner, chair of Foothill’s Relay for Life. “Then in the evening, we’ll have a mini-luminaria ceremony starting at the war memorial on Honolulu.”

The luminaria, like the painting of the town, is a tradition that is a visual reminder of the relay, the lighted bags featuring pictures of those who lost their battle to cancer. Often their remaining loved ones are participants in the 24-hour relay event.

Other promotional activities on Saturday include tying purple balloons around town and passing out flyers.

“We’re trying to help get the word out,” said Warner.

Warner herself has made the commitment to purple hair for this weekend.

“I should stand out,” she laughed.

Relay for Life takes place on May 14 and 15 at Clark Magnet High School, starting at 9 a.m. Teams are still being formed. Anyone interested in taking part can attend the mini-luminaria ceremony at Ocean View and Honolulu this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

  Jason Kurosu, News, relay for life