Relay For Life is much more than a walk around a track: it is a time to celebrate those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones, and get inspired to fight back.

This year, nearly 200,000 Relayers in the Great Lakes Division participated in 314 Relay For Life events, raising more than $24 million in the fight against cancer. More than 10,000 Relay teams were formed to participate in 25 college events and 289 community events in Indiana and Michigan.

Of these events, 74 have the honor of reaching PaceSetter status by meeting criteria such as having a chair/vice chair in place, having a leadership succession plan in place, and meeting 100% of their team recruitment goal 60 days prior to the event. Together, these 74 events exceeded their original goal by almost $600,000. Click here for a list of this year's PaceSetter events.

To celebrate survivorship, Relays open as cancer survivors take the first lap. During the Ceremony of Hope, cancer survivors are honored and loved ones lost to cancer are remembered as luminaria candles are lit and left burning throughout the night to remind participants of the incredible importance of their contributions. The Great Lakes Division had 25,562 survivors participate in their local Relay events and more than 319,168 luminaria to honor and remember those who have faced cancer.

By participating in a Relay For Life event near you, you honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives lost to the disease, and raise money to help fight it – all right in your community. You have the power to continue the American Cancer Society's progress towards a future where cancer doesn't take the lives of our friends and family. To find out how you can join the fight against cancer, call your American Cancer Society toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345.