The Charlotte County Relay for Life will host its annual event on Saturday from noon-9 p.m. at Southside Virginia Community College’s John H. Daniel Campus.

The event is held to benefit the American Cancer Society.

According to the American Cancer Society’s website, Relay for Life is a community fundraising event where team members alternate walking in the fight for a cure.

In addition to raising money to fight cancer, Relay for Life creates a fun atmosphere full of food, games and activities.

“It’s very important to me,” said Friends for a Cure Team Representative Teresa Osborne. “Our money goes towards research.”

Osborne said her team is composed of mostly friends and family members, and the cause is dear to her because she has had many family members battle cancer.

Currently, Friends for a Cure has raised over $6,000 this year.

“We always have a barbeque dinner,” she said. Osborne said the team conducted several raffles to help raise money.

The American Cancer Society said Relay for Life spans over 5,200 communities and 20 countries.

“We all Relay in hope that one day the cure will remove the curse of cancer,” said TPAC (Trucker’s Parade Against Cancer) Team Member Shannon Feinman. “Everyone knows someone, works with someone, worships with someone or loves someone who has battled cancer or has lost someone to cancer. Charlotte County and Southside Virginia seem to be especially vulnerable.”

She said the cause holds a special place in her heart due to various family members being affected by the disease.

“It is crippling to hear that your loved one has cancer, so I can only try to imagine how it feels to battle it oneself,” said Feinman. “We need to support our loved ones and our local patients in every way we can as they battle. We must also continue to raise this Relay money and make sure the scientific research is taking place to find a cure.”

She said she hopes everyone will help to support cancer research at any level they are capable of.

Relay for Life raises over $400 million annually to help in the fight for cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. “Relay for Life is important because together we are working hard to create a world where cancer will no longer be a threat to anyone,” said Cheryl Vassar, a TPAC team member.

All fundraising monies collected for Relay for Life are used to aid with cancer research and providing information to patients free of charge, according to the American Cancer Society.

Currently, 18 local teams and 249 participants have raised over $133,000, according to the organization.

For more information about the event, contact Hazel Bowman Smith at (434) 735-8276.