For many, the celebration of Mardi Gras is a time to celebrate and enjoy the excesses of life before having to give them up for Lent.

“Mardi Gras is a time of celebration,” said event coordinator Teresa Maddox. “And honey, when you [beat] cancer, you celebrate.”

Maddox, a cancer survivor of four years, is excited about the dedication shown by her fellow CMC employees.

“Everybody at the hospital is committed,” she said.

The event will be held March 8 in the CMC cafeteria, and the menu includes all things Cajun. Maddox promises red beans, rice and gravy with smoked sausage, garlic bread, cracker salad and king cake. The latter two are dishes that always require a bit of explanation, according to Maddox.

Cracker salad is a dish that is essentially potato salad, substituting crackers for potatoes “Way back on the bayou, they don’t go shopping every week,” said Maddox.” So when they’d get spring fever and want to throw a party, and they’d be out of potatoes, they’d use what they had.”

King cake is a dessert that at random will have coins or other trinkets baked inside of it. The coins are then returned for a prize, which in the case of the luncheon will be a free meal from the cafeteria.

Maddox said the idea came from her wanting to embrace life, as well as her roots.

“[It came] from my Louisiana background,” she said. “It’s the beginning of spring, the beginning of a new season before the hard stuff comes. It’s a fun time.”

The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and plates will be $6 apiece or $10 per couple. For more information, contact Maddox at 280-3547.