The Iroquois County Relay for Life welcomes the public to Watseka High School's Blake Field Friday evening. The opening ceremony is at 6 pm. The annual event benefits the American Cancer Society.

94.1 WGFA will broadcast 'live" at 5:30 pm to help kickoff the event, which will include more than two-dozen relay teams and their sponsors. The event runs until 2 am.

Inclement weather would move the event inside the high school gymnasium.

The Kankakee County Relay event will take place again this Saturday at Bishop McNamara Catholic High School in Kankakee. The goal is to raise $403,000 to support local American Cancer Society programs.

Coordinator Areca Van Mill encourages everyone to participate. "You don't have to have a team. Anyone can come," she said.

The annual events features a walk, entertainment, information sessions about cancer and a luminara display in remembrance of those the disease has claimed.

Survivors are recognized as special guests at the events.

Luminaria displays, which start about 9 pm at both events, are considered the most appropriate place to share stories of people who battled cancer.

"A lot of people come to remember someone who's passed away or to support someone who's going through it," Van Mill said. "That's where the stories are told about their journey."

Van Mill said "so many people play such an important role in this every year."

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