Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

These are the brave words cherished by American Cancer Society's Relay For Life participants. This global event allows people to celebrate the lives of people who have fought cancer, remember the lost loved ones due to cancer, and to fight back against cancer that has taken so much.

A couple of this Relay for Life events in the US are looking for more participating teams and support as well as donations and sponsorships.

With the theme "Welcome to the Wonderful World of Relay: Where Hope Begins," Relay For Life of Pettis County is still looking to increase the success of the event. Taking place at the new Jennie Jaynes Stadium this June 5, 2015, 22 registered teams have produced about $18,000 but the committee's target for this year is to raise $70,000 to be of assistance to local cancer patients.

With more than a month to go, co-chairs Melissa McGathy and Andrea Young believe that with the size of the community of Sedalia, they could realistically surpass their goal as they have raised almost $90,000 two years ago. They have been encouraging every district in Pettis County to form teams that will participate on the event. There is no registration period in creating teams so people could still build teams even days before the relay. If you want to participate, please go to their website for more information.

Meanwhile, the annual Jackson County Relay For Life event will be held at the Jackson Heights High School track on June 26, 2015. As of the moment, members have raised more than $10,000 and have registered seven teams. They seek corporate sponsorships to fund the said event and sponsors will be recognized at the relay for their donations. Please do check their website for more information.

Although Relay For Life schedules vary on different locations, common features include a survivor dinner for anyone diagnosed with cancer in the community, and a luminaria ceremony for remembering those who died from cancer.

This global phenomenon all started in May 1985, when Dr. Gordon Klatt, a colorectal surgeon, walked around the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. He raised $27,000 through pledges after walking approximately 83 miles as friends, family and patients supported his cause. On the following year, he organized 19 teams as part of the first Relay for Life at Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000.

According to American Cancer Society, Relay For Life has now listed more than 4 million participants in over 20 countries.

Photo: Montgomery County Planning Commission | Flickr