Relay for Life held at Cape County Park

The annual ACS Relay for Life event which raises money for cancer research began at 6 p.m. Friday and concluded this morning at 6 a.m.

The event took place in Cape County Park North. Teams of between 9 and 15 people were asked to camp out and keep at least one team member walking around the lake at all times as part of the fund-raiser.

A carnival atmosphere with events like a casino booth, live music and ring toss games helped keep things lively late into the night.

The purpose of the relay is to celebrate cancer survivors and fund research for a cure.

Event organizers say they are close to reaching their goal of raising $160,000 for the American Cancer Society. Prior to the event, teams raised $94,040.30.

Each team raised additional money with sales of hot dogs, deserts, or crafts from booths circling the lake.

The most heart-rending moment of the evening occurred at 9 p.m. when 350 luminaria candles were lit around the lake. Many of the candles were purchased by family members in remembrance of lost loved ones.

Survivors also take a celebratory walk around the lake at 6 p.m.

Dolores Bohnsack said she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of 1999. She has been in remission for many years now and believes the relay event has been a literal life saver.

"The research is just so important. I was on the drug Tamoxifen for three years and later took one called Femara because I was high risk for recurrence," she said. "Both of those drugs were developed through American Cancer Society research. So I say by participating in this event and helping to raise money for research, I'm helping to keep myself alive."