Even after celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life still kept things exciting for its 21st event Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Pottsville Area High School.
The 24-hour event raises money to support cancer patient services, life-saving research, prevention education and advocacy efforts.
"You don't want an event to be the same every year," Marybeth Matz, registration chairwoman, said Friday. "There's a lot of new things, and it's exciting. We need to get people excited to beat cancer, and that's our goal."
Activities started at 3 p.m. with the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Following remarks by state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, Mayor James Muldowney and city councilman Mark Atkinson, the Pottsville Area High School band and cheerleaders led the first official lap around the track.
New this year was an honorary chairperson, who was Muldowney.
Polynesian dancers were also something different for the event. Twenty-two dancers took the stage from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Friday.
"They're here to bring out the clear skies," Matz said.
Social media has been used heavily to promote the event for the first time, Charles R. "Chuck" Joy, advocacy chairman at the American Cancer Society, said.
"The social media effort has really taken off," Joy said. "Relays are the best kept secret, but they are for everyone."
In addition to online promotion, people were able to keep up with the event through text messages from the American Cancer Society by texting 2146 to 22723.
The goal this year was to raise $149,000. As of the start of the event Friday, the 53 teams consisting of 459 participants raised nearly $90,000. Donations for the event are collected up until Dec. 31 and can be made online at www.relayforlife.org.
Team Stand By Me has been the top fundraising team each year they were at the event. They are looking to make it five in a row this year.
Playing off the event's theme, the "Game of Life," Team Stand By Me wore shirts made to look like Twister game boards. The team's motto was "Twist Out Cancer."
"We do it in honor of my father and sister we lost to cancer," Rob Anspach, member of Team Stand By Me, said. "It's not that we don't remember them all year, because we do, but this weekend focuses on cancer and everyone it has affected in our lives."
The team raised $19,000 last year and set a goal of $22,000 this year. As of Friday, the team raised $21,807.
Others at the Relay said the event serves as a support for ongoing battles with cancer.
Ilyse Hampton, staff partner for the event, said she first got involved with Relay events two years ago. Her mother is fighting cancer, she said.
"I turn to the Relay for support and that's what I found - another family," Hampton said.