The American Cancer Society is looking for anyone who wants to honor cancer survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer) and caregivers, or pay tribute to those who have lost their battle with cancer, to join its Relay For Life. The event will be held May 14 and 15 at Freedom High School.

Relay For Life began back in 1985, when one man walked around a track for 24 hours, raising $27,000. Since then, the event has gone nationwide and is held in more than 4,800 communities.

To get things started, the Relay For Life kickoff rally will be held Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Freedom High School’s multi-purpose room. All interested participants, families, caregivers, companies and schools are invited to get involved, sign up for activities and educate themselves about one of the American Cancer Society’s biggest fundraisers.

Relay For Life is an overnight community gathering of individuals and teams camped out, barbecuing, dancing and taking turns walking around a track relay-style to raise funds to fight cancer. As day turns to night, participants light hundreds of luminaria around the track in an inspiring ceremony to honor cancer survivors as well as friends and family members who have died from the disease.

Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day, cancer will be eliminated.