The American Cancer Society will once again hold its popular Relay for Life event to celebrate survivors and raise money for research and programs.

The 24-hour event starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday May 30 and participants will walk around a course at Central Park until 9 a.m. the next morning.

During the event, teams and individuals will take on the task of walking the entire time.

“One person has to be on the track the entire time,” said Jon Fortman event chair for the SCV Cancer Society. “The idea behind that is ‘cancer never sleeps.’”

Campsites will be set up around the park to give teams a home base where participants not walking can rest, escape the sun and mingle with other participants whose lives have been affected by cancer.

All proceeds from the event go to the American Cancer Society and this year’s event is expected to bring in more than $600,000.

More than 2000 people are expected to participate in the event, and over 5000 total are expected to attend, according to Fortman.

One of the most popular of the night’s activities is the Luminaria Ceremony which takes place at dusk.  Participants light candles and place them in white bags with pictures or names of those surviving cancer or who have lost their battle.

These candles then light the path of the walkers for the rest of the evening.

In addition to the relay there will also be live music, games and activities that take place all throughout the event.

For more information of the Relay for Life and a schedule of events click here.

To see pictures of last year’s Relay for Life, click here.