At dusk on Friday night, over 350 Fayette County cancer survivors will walk the first lap of Relay For Life at the Kiwanis Fair Complex in Fayetteville.

Cancer survivors walk the initial lap, symbolizing the courage that survivors display and sustain in their lives. The cancer survivors will be joined by their caregivers for the second lap. This is the community’s opportunity to honor the men and women who care for those with cancer. Then, 140 teams of youth, community groups, local business people, teachers and administrators, and everyday ordinary folks will start walking around a gravel paved track surrounded by unlit luminary bags, and they won't stop walking until sunrise on Saturday morning.

Relay For Life is a celebration of cancer survivorship and community spirit. Each year in 3,600 communities worldwide, more than 2.25 million people (including 460,000 cancer survivors) take part in this overnight event. In addition to honoring survivors, Relay For Life raises much-needed funds for American Cancer Society research, education, advocacy and patient services. The 2005 Relay For Life - Fayette County raised $479,000 and had 300 survivors participate, the goal for Relay For Life 2006 is to raise $490,000 and have 350 survivors participate.

Before anyone starts walking at the Kiwanis Fair Complex a torch to light the luminaries will be relayed from the Stonewall Village in downtown Fayetteville. An honor guard of motorcyclist from the Moo Cow Bikers of Fayette County will lead the torch bearers. Each person caring the torch is a cancer survivors or a patient currently undergoing treatment. The walkers/runners include employees or students from several different Fayette County schools. They include students, administrators, teachers, nurses, and two Delta Airlines employees. The torch relay will commence at Stonewall Village at approximately 4 p.m., turn on Beauregard Road, continue south on Redwine Road, turn into Highgrove subdivision, turn left on Bernard and cross Ga. Highway 85 to enter the Kiwanis Fair Complex from Goza Road.

The main torch will be lit by cancer patient, three year old Mary Evelyn King. The flame of the large torch will be used to light the torches and luminaries that have been purchased in honor or memorial of someone who has had cancer.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend Relay For Life. The event is a family friendly community building happening. Teams raising funds sell food, novelty items, and offer games of chance. Witnessing the Luminary Ceremony is a most memorable event. At 9:30 p.m. hundreds of luminaries that surround the inside and outside of the track will be lit. Each luminary has been purchased to honor, or in memorial, of someone who has battled cancer. Searching for a loved ones' luminary and then watching it glow through the night, reminds Relay participants that there is always hope. Hope for a cure, and hope for an end to cancer suffering.

The all night entertainment starts at 6 p.m. and the opening ceremony begins at 7 p.m.

The Luminary Ceremony starts at 9:30 p.m. and there will be a Memorial Ceremony to honor those who have had cancer and are no longer with us at 12 a.m.

Finally, a wrap up and closing ceremony will take place at dawn. Come join other members of our community and show your support of the teams fighting the battle against cancer. For more information about Relay For Life please contact Nychelle Willliams, Senior Community Income Manager at 770-460-8920.