By Chakara Bennett, Guardian Summer Intern

Cancer — a word which conjures up fear in many a person.

But when it is associated with the Cancer Society Ball, it means its time to escape, push that dreaded word to the back of your mind, have fun and help to raise funds for a worthy cause.

On Saturday, May 10 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort the Cancer Society of The Bahamas will hold its 7th annual Gala Ball, with a Mardi Gras flavor.

Much like in previous years, this year's ball is expected to be truly breath-taking says Katrina Livingstone, an 83-year-old cancer survivor.

"I was able to attend the ball last year and it was spectacular! There was so much glitter and glamor, fancy hairdos, pretty dresses and beautiful people. It was so well organized too," she said.

Earle Bethell, the ball chairperson, says that this year's event will have a New Orleans flare — from the decorations to the music, and he promises you won't be bored.

"This ball is not like others that focus so much on speeches and formalities. It is a ball in which we want people to thoroughly have good clean fun in a beautiful environment," said Bethell. "There will be prizes and surprises. We have even gone as far as to have table prizes so that there will be an even distribution of prizes throughout. You really don't want to miss this."

By the end of the evening, five winners will have received multiple prizes. The first prize winner will receive a round-trip ticket to the United States, a cruise and an original painting by a local artist. The second place winner gets a round-trip ticket for two to Europe, jewelry, a painting and a cellphone. The remaining winners also receive equally fabulous prizes that range from trips to the Caribbean, Jamaica and Eleuthera, gift certificates, cellphones, paintings, flat-screen televisions and dinners.

The ball committee intends to further charm their attendees with a plethora of jazz musicians from Mr. J's Ragtime Band playing jazzy, upbeat music in the foyer while ball attendees wait to be admitted.

Upon entrance they will then be intrigued by the smooth style of Chris Justillian and the band he especially put together for the event, and during the serving of dinner, the Lou Adams Orchestra will enchant with softer, more soulful dance music.

After dinner, The Falcons will bring the ball back to a scorching sizzling jazzy up-tempo affair, and last but not least, Mardi Gras jesters will prance around for the entertainment of guests.

Even the five-course menu is New Orleans style. To whet your appetite, the first course will consist of a scrumptious gourmet seafood gumbo topped with Louisiana sausage drizzled in garlic cream, followed by Pointe de Mardi Gras, a salad made with Eleuthera sweet green tomatoes sprinkled with mozzarella and perfumed with basil oil and voodoo greens. Next, the Mississippi rainbow sherbet will clear your palate.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Good, because it doesn't stop there. The entree, Bourbon Street, is basically a specially prepared chicken filet dish accompanied by sweet, golden potatoes, roasted red peppers, carrots and asparagus, and to top it all off, St. Rampart Street, a tropical fruit pudding with pistachio ice-cream drizzled with roasted banana sauce will be served for dessert.

Now, do you really want to miss this divine meal fit for the gods? I didn't think so. After all, this event only occurs once a year, so treat yourself to a lovely evening of fine dining and fun while knowing at the back of your mind that you are helping a worthy cause at the same time.

The humble donation requested to attend this event and simultaneously support this charitable organization is a mere $200.

Remember, this is the Cancer Society's main fundraiser and was initially established to raise funds to build the current Cancer Society building which serves as a meeting area for the cancer survivors as well as a sort of rehabilitation and relaxation center for those who are battling with or recuperating from bouts with the illness. The funds gathered from this annual event currently assist in the maintenance of the building.

This ball is sponsored by many contributors but the major partners are Atlantic Medical Insurance, BahaMar, Centerville Pavillion and the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.

Cancer Society Ball

When: Saturday, May 10

Venue: Wyndham Nassau Resort

Time: Cocktails 7 p.m., dinner 8 p.m.

Donation: $200

Entertainment:

Mr. J's Ragtime Band

Chris Justillian and band

Lou Adams Orchestra

The Falcons