SWOSU will be hosting the annual Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research and enjoy the company of others who have been affected by cancer.

The event begins in the SWOSU Wellness Center at 6 p.m. Friday, April 22. Everyone is invited to join a team for the relay or simply come enjoy the community coming together for the cause. Teams can be made up of anyone who would like to join and usually consist of clubs, corporations, neighborhoods and others.

Registration can be done online at Relay for Life of Custer-Beckham Counties. Step one after registering is to select a team captain or co-captains to make sure all the information is received, and steps are completed. It is suggested that each team recruits 8-15 people to make fundraising easier, but teams can have more or fewer people.

Each team will need to download the American Cancer Society FUNdraising app to get its information out to seek donations. The last step for each team is to create a fundraising goal with $100 being the minimum.

At the event, team members take turns walking around a track as others enjoy the celebration. Food, music, activities and entertainment are provided for everyone to enjoy as they walk or watch. The survivor’s lap is for those around the community who have won the battle against cancer while being celebrated by the community and loved ones around them.

A candlelight ceremony, known as Luminaria, will also take place. Luminarias are bought to honor those who have won their battle against cancer, are fighting their current battle or memorialize those who have lost their battle with cancer. Luminarias are kept burning throughout the night.

Relay for Life is sponsored by the American Cancer Society to raise funds, awareness and support for those who have been affected by cancer in any way. The event was coined by Gordy Klatt, M.D. in 1985. Klatt walked around a track in Tacoma, Washington for 24 hours for a total of 81 miles and $27,000 raised for the American Cancer Society