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Teams of North County residents will gather at St. Louis Community College’s Florissant Valley campus June 29 for the  annual American Cancer Society’s annual Relay For Life.

Relay for Life is a fun-filled event that mobilizes communities throughout the country to celebrate survivors (anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer), remember loved ones and raise money for the fight against cancer. To date, 17 teams and 121 participants have raised $13,349.17.

The event begins at noon with a cancer survivors lap celebrating those who have overcome cancer or who are currently battling cancer. Games, music, live entertainment encourage people all through the night. Some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during Relay. KCFV-FM, STLCC-Florissant Valley’s student radio station, will be broadcasting live at the event.

Relay for Life’s Luminaria Ceremony takes place after sundown, honoring the community’s cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease. Participants will circle a track that is surrounded with glowing luminaria that bear the name of someone who has battled cancer. Luminaria may be purchased for $5 by visiting www.RelayForLife.org/NorthStLouisCoMO.

Another event will be the “Fight Back” Ceremony, in which a speaker will inspire relay participants with his or her own commitment and will challenge them to take a personal pledge of action, such as commit to eating healthier, stop smoking, exercise regularly, etc., in fighting back.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life first started in 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt took the first step of this 24-hour walk around the track in Tacoma, Wash., raising $27,000 to support the American Cancer Society.  The North County Relay for Life had been held for several years at the track at Hazelwood Central High School.

For more information on the  Relay for Life, visit www.RelayForLife.org or call 1-800-227-2345.