The motto of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is, “It’s about a community that takes up the fight.” And the MSU community is working to show that’s a true statement.

Stephanie Rigler, community development director for the American Cancer Society, said 450 people have already signed up for the event that will take place April 20-21 at Jenison Field House. The 24-hour relay will feature teams camping out while they pledge to keep at least one person from their 15- to 20-member teams walking or running on the track at all times.

“These teams will truly be taking up the fight,” Rigler said. “The groups are coming together for the same reason for these 24 hours.”

Participants, who are mainly MSU students, will collect donations for cancer research projects across the country.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. April 20 with an opening ceremony honoring cancer survivors and their families. The first lap of the race will also be reserved for the survivors.

At 9 p.m. there will be a luminary ceremony dedicated to people who have lost their lives to the disease. White bags with candles inside and a name of someone who has died written on them, will line the perimeter of the track as the participants continue walking.

The relay is in its 16th year nationally, but this year marks the first time one has been held at MSU. The event began in 1985 when a Tacoma, Wash., doctor collected donations to walk around a track for 24 hours.

“The next year he was joined by many others,” Rigler said. “And since then it has been an annual event held across the country.”

Rigler said there are 188 relays held in Michigan and 2,700 nationwide.

Merchandising management sophomore and MSU cheerleader Haley Kunik has put together a team of 18 people, including most members of the cheerleading squad. Her grandmother died of cancer last year, and she said since then she knew she has wanted to get involved in benefits like Relay for Life.

“I want to help others the best that I can,” Kunik said. “I am extremely excited because I have been working on this for a long time.”

Kunik said she made a schedule to assure there will be one person on the track at all times, with each person walking between 30 and 40 minutes each.

She said she is looking forward to seeing the results of her hard work.

“I’m extremely excited about everyone coming together,” Kunik said. “I am especially looking forward to the luminary ceremony.

“It will be a really special and moving moment for everyone.”

To participate or to volunteer contact Stephanie Rigler of the American Cancer Society at 332-3300.