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A dozen or so volunteers from the American Cancer Society have taken to the streets to "paint the town purple" to raise awareness for the annual Relay For Life later this month.

In addition to the purple ribbons that line Main Street, the metal buffalo near the corner of Bernal and Pleasanton avenues now sports a purple scarf.

"People say, 'Why the purple ribbons?' and then we tell them, 'Relay for Life,'" said Florine Johnston, chairwoman for the 24-hour relay, which will be held from 10 a.m. July 21 to 10 a.m. July 22 at the Pleasanton Middle School track in Pleasanton.

Worldwide 4 million people will participate to celebrate the lives of those who have fought cancer and to raise money for cancer research.

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