DAPHNE, Ala. — Energy will fill the air at 5 p.m. on April 30 at Daphne Middle School as volunteers stay up all night to race, have fun and enjoy fellowship while they raise money for cancer research, support survivors and honor lost loved ones.

The event will, of course, feature a relay with participants receiving donations for their all-night run, but other festivities will include hot-air balloon rides, Locks of Love haircuts (to benefit people with medical-related hair loss), live entertainment, inflatables and food, according to the American Cancer Society’s Web site, acsevents.org.

Cecilia Mace, team captain for Mercy Medical, explained the drive of the event.

“The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives people in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease,” she said. “At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

“Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event; because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.”

Mace said she has personal reasons for her involvement.

“I first participated in Relay for Life in 2008—the year my maid of honor and best friend Karen Bell died of ovarian cancer at age 44; in 2009, I lost two more loved ones: my Aunt Betty and Aunt Ronnie to cancer,” she said.

“For me, supporting this great event is a way for me to honor those who lost their battle and to support anyone going through the battle.”

“It is an unbearable thought: imagining the suffering, the fear, and the pain of cancer, so rather than do nothing, this is one way for me to actively make a stand of support, of honor and of compassion,” Mace added.  “Most importantly, my children are along side of me each year, knowing that their participation, however small, makes a difference.

Another Mercy team member, Sherry Bloodworth, agreed.

“Participating in Relay for Life was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and was certainly the most rewarding experience for my father during his battle with cancer—unfortunately, my father lost his battle suddenly and quietly about a month after the 2009 Relay for Life event where he was the guest speaker,” she said. “It gives me great comfort to know that so many people are dedicated to the mission of fighting this disease and that my family is not alone in dealing with the loss of a loved one who fought his cancer so bravely and inspired others along the way.

“It is my goal to be able to foster hope in others who have cancer and continue my father's mission in this way.”

She is looking forward to the bright future of the event, she said.

“Now that we approach Relay for Life 2010, I am reassured by the commitment and sheer volume of participants devoted to keeping memories of their loved ones alive and am so proud of my father for bravely sharing his story and love with others at the event last year,” she said.

Many businesses and individuals on the Eastern Shore raise donations for Relay for Life:

Top teams, as of press time, according to the cancer society, are as follows:

Top participants:

To volunteer or make donations to participating groups, or for more information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=22445&pg=entry.