Nygren joins Gallup Relay For Life to support cancer survivors

Cancer survivors, caregivers and families filled the Gallup Relay For Life on June 13 as President Buu Nygren joined the crowd and watched the fundraiser’s mix of remembrance and action unfold in McKinley County. The annual event centered on the people still carrying cancer’s cost at home, from the names written on luminaria bags to the auction items sold to support research and patient services.

Relay For Life of Gallup McKinley County began with survivor registration and photos at 5 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. and an overnight program that was set to close at 1 a.m. Organizers said the final 2026 fundraising total would be announced at the closing ceremony. The gathering included food, games and family-friendly activities throughout the night, reflecting the event’s role as both a community outing and a serious fundraiser.

Nygren moved through the event as handbags and other items went to auction, adding to the money raised for Relay For Life and its mission. One of the most moving sights was a row of luminaria bags, each marked with the name of a loved one who had battled cancer. The bags served as a tribute to people who have died, a celebration of survivors and a reminder that cancer reaches deep into families across Gallup, McKinley County and nearby Navajo communities.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser, and its standard format includes honoring cancer survivors and caregivers, a luminaria ceremony and a fight-back effort aimed at research and support. In Gallup, that national mission took on a local shape as residents turned out to raise funds for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services.

A separate 2026 Relay for Life Gallup Birdhouse Auction was also tied to the same fundraising push, underscoring how local donors have used multiple events to build support for cancer care. For survivors and caregivers who came to Gallup, the night was less about ceremony than about the everyday reality that cancer still demands travel, money and community backing, and that those burdens remain close to home.