— Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Chris Anderson Cancer survivors take to the track last night during the Survivor’s Lap of the Relay for Life of Hamilton County. The event was held at West Twin Park and marked the 20th year for the Relay.

Volunteers with the American Cancer Society held the 20th annual Relay For Life at West Twin Parks Thursday night.

Although relay is in the name, the actual relay is a very small part of the Relay For Life. Caryline Clark, staff partner from the American Cancer Society, was one of the organizers of the event and feels that the event is more of a celebration.

“I think the common misconception is that it’s a run,” Clark said, “There’s no running or even walking involved if you want, it’s really just a celebration.”

However, in addition to being a celebration, Relay For Life also serves the important function of fundraising for the American Cancer Society. The funds raised at the relay go towards cancer research, patient care services, and prevention initiatives.

Pat Nokes, who has volunteered at Relay For Life all 20 years, was helping take donations and handing out paper bags where family members could write the names of loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

“The bags are in memory or in honor of people that have had cancer. So they have either passed away or are survivors,” Nokes said.

After loved ones wrote names or pictures on the bags, thet were then set on the side of the trail of the relay with candles inside of them.

“At 9 o’clock we will light all the candles and whatnot, we call it a luminary ceremony. Then all the names on the bags will be read off,” Nokes said.

At 6 p.m. the relay began with an opening ceremony with the national anthem and Pastor Craig Blaufuss of First Congregational UCC leading a prayer. Following, was a speech by this year’s Honorary Chairman, Jodene Firsching.

Firsching, a breast cancer survivor from Webster City, gave a speech before the relay began.

In her speech Firsching shared how cancer affected not only her, but her family. When being diagnosed in 2014, Firsching quickly learned the difficulties of fighting cancer.

She shared that she was the kind of patient where if a side effect had a 2 percent chance of happening, it would happen to her.

“Believe me if something could go wrong, it would go wrong,” Firsching said.

Despite the obvious hardships that come with fighting cancer, Firsching stayed positive and decided to look on the bright side, especially with how it affected her family.

“Cancer has brought our family closer together than I could have imagined,” Firsching said.

Firsching thanked her family for the role they played in helping her fight cancer. Then, as the relay began she kicked off the first lap with her family by her side.

The first lap of the relay was reserved for survivors of cancer, following that was a lap dedicated to caregivers of those affected by the disease.

After the first two laps other members of the community were invited to walk the block around West Twin Park keeping the relay going, bringing cancer survivors, caregivers and the community together.