The 10h annual Relay For Life takes place Friday and Saturday Aug. 2-3, at

Horace Austin Park in Austin.

Beginning Friday evening, participants will walk around the Mill Pond Pathway to celebrate cancer survivors and mourn the loss of loved ones.

Kim Baier, a cancer survivors, is the honorary chairperson for

the Mower County American Cancer Society fund-raiser.

Kristin Langan is the chairperson for this year's event.

"The American cancer Society's Relay For Life is a community event that celebrates life, raises money for the American Cancer Society and

brings together teams from families, local businesses, hospitals, schools

and churches," said Langan.

"Members from

teams of 8 to 15 people collect donations for the American Cancer Society and then commit to have

one person from their team walking, jogging or running in relay-style around the Mill Pond Pathway for the entire 14-hour event," Langan explained.

The purpose of the Austin Relay For Life and other similar events is to raise money to research a cure for cancer.

More than 8.4 million Americans are cancer survivors, but Langan said, "Too many lives are still lost every year."

"We must fight for a future free from cancer," she said.

Presently, Langan and other Mower County ACS volunteers are recruiting teams for the Relay For Life event. Also being recruited are people to purchase a luminary to honor a loved one

who has survived cancer or who has succumbed to cancer.

The event's chair, Langan, is herself a former bystander who became a participant and now has taken over the organizational duties.

"Three years ago, I became aware of

this local event through a family friend," Langan said "The event touched and intrigued me."

"The next year, I became part of a team for the event.

For 12 hours, even in the rain, I walked the Mill Pond Pathway

with other team members to celebrate life and raise funds towards finding a cure for cancer," Langan said.

"The feeling of being a part of

this event was incredible and fund," she said.

For more information about the Relay For Life, call Langan at 473-7336.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

:mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com