The race is on to find a cure for cancer and Pike County is a frontrunner in raising funds to fight the devastating disease.

Each May, thousands of people work tirelessly in an effort to reach to goal set for the annual Relay for Life Campaign.

Tonight, 67 teams and their supporters will gather at the Troy State University band/soccer field on Collegedale to celebrate another successful fundraising and fun campaign.

Teams will begin to set up their tents early in the day and the grills will fired up long before the opening ceremony at 6 p.m.

Following the opening ceremony, the teams will circle the Relay &uot;track&uot; and cheer for the cancer survivors as the make the Survivor Kickoff Lap.

Entertainment, fun and fellowship will be the order of the day for the next three hours. And the track around the field will be pounded by walkers as a reminder that that cancer never sleeps and the fight must continue.

Then at 9 p.m., the Luminary Ceremony will begin and silence will blanket the field as the names of those who have lost their battles with cancer and those who have survived the disease are read. Everyone is asked to walk several laps during the Luminary Ceremony and read the names of those whose lives are celebrated.

After the Luminary Ceremony, the most hilarious event of the night, the Miz Relay Womanless Beauty Contest will get under way on the center stage around 10:30 p.m.

The beauty will be chosen by audience applause so everyone is encouraged to cheer for his or her favorite beauty.

The Awards Ceremony will begin immediately following the crowing of Miz Relay 2003.

Awards will be presented to the top fund raising team, the top individual fundraiser, top per capita team and tent decoration. The Avis Synco Spirit of Relay Award will also be presented at this time.

Everyone is invited to be a part of the 2003 Relay for Life event. You don't have to be a member of a team to participate.

Anyone who wants to see cancer defeated in their lifetime is invited and encouraged to join the fun.