LAKEPORT, Calif. – The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Lake County will return once more in May, with the ninth annual event offering the community the chance to take part in the fight against cancer while allowing family and friends an important venue for remembrance and healing.

Teams will gather at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport on Saturday, May 19, at 10 a.m. for the overnight relay against cancer, with walkers going around the clock.

Relay For Life is a family-oriented team event where participants walk relay-style around the track and take part in fun activities off the track.

Teams can include coworkers, club members, family and friends and have gathered donations prior to the event.

“Relay For Life is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease,” said Marshele Bennett.

“Many of the participants are cancer survivors – anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer – which serves as a reminder that our community is not immune to this disease and we can actually help our friends, families and neighbors that have been touched by cancer,” she added.

The public also is invited to attend the luminaria ceremony, which will take place after sundown.

To honor the community’s cancer survivors and to remember those lost to the disease, survivors will circle the track rimmed with glowing luminaria while the names of survivors and those lost to the disease are read aloud. Luminaria can be purchased for any donation amount at the event.

Funds raised at Relay For Life will enable the American Cancer Society to support local services and resources for cancer patients and their families.

Funds also support critical cancer research and community education programs designed to teach people how to reduce their risk of developing cancer.

Relay For Life events will be held in more than 300 communities throughout California, raising $36 million for the fight against cancer.

To locate a Relay For Life event and find out how you can get involved, please call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.RelayForLife.org.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews, on Tumblr at www.lakeconews.tumblr.com, on Google+, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .