Carroll County's seventh annual Relay for Life will be Friday and Saturday at the Carroll High School track.

Last year over $30,000 was raised from the event and over 80 survivors in the area were celebrated. Over 500 participants walked in the event.

This year the goal is to raise $35,000, celebrate 100 survivors, and have 1,000 people participate.

The overnight celebration begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and ends at noon on Saturday. There are numerous community sponsors, including Indiana Packers, Brewster Insurance and St. Elizabeth Healthcare Center.

The relay involves teams camping out, walking laps on the track, socializing, and participating in planned activities. The teams have had fundraisers to support their efforts.

Families and individuals can come to the track and walk, and make a donation to the cause. Anyone can come and cheer on the walkers, eat at the Kiwanis breakfast at 7 a.m. Saturday and support other fundraising activities.

Shine 99 is broadcasting and doing live remotes Friday night and Lifeline is making a visit sometime in the early evening.

A full schedule of ceremonies, themed laps, contests, and activities is planned.

The opening ceremony begins at 6 p.m. on Friday with an invocation, singing of the National Anthem, balloon release by cancer survivors, and the traditional Survivor Lap. Following the Survivor Lap a group photo will be taken with reception following in the big tent.

The first lap for Relay Team Walkers begins at 6:30 p.m. The Rookie Lap for first-time walkers is at 7 p.m.

Also at 7 is the "Miss"ter Relay Contest. Misters dress up as Misses, all for a good cause. A winner is crowned at 8 p.m.

Flight Back Ceremony starts at 8:30.

The Luminaria Ceremony begins at dusk, 9:45 p.m. Names of cancer victims will be read and the luminaries lighted. To participate, make a $10 donation per name for a track-side luminaria and/or a $15 donation per name for a bleacher luminaria, which will spell out HOPE on the bleachers. Cut-off time for luminaries to be purchased is 8 p.m.

At midnight, there is a pizza buffet for hungry participants and a dodgeball game scheduled.

Saturday's events start with the Kiwanis Breakfast, followed at 9 a.m. by Relay Idol, the Relay's version of the popular American Idol show.

The closing ceremony begins at 11:30 with everyone joining in on a Victory Lap.

Shawna Dreadfulwater is chairing the event, assisted by Tina Miller.

Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event. It has been bringing cancer survivors and anyone touched by the disease together since 1985. Today, more than 4,200 communities across America host Relay for Life events that provide a platform for raising cancer awareness and connecting communities to the programs and services of the American Cancer Society.