Hillcrest School team members show their spirit with a wave of their flags and a cheer Friday during the Relay for Life kickoff at Free State High School. The event, scheduled to go all night, is a fundraiser and celebration of those who have battled cancer.

Hundreds of cancer survivors lined up on the Free State High School track Friday evening to celebrate life in the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life benefit.

Between the people in the back of the pack who just months ago went into remission and those in the front who beat out cancer 20 years ago, Leslie Mutuku held her two young daughters’ hands, glad to be alive after surviving breast cancer two years ago.

“It’s just awesome to be able to come and walk,” she said. “I’m just grateful that I’m alive to take that lap.”

More than 500 people and 78 teams participated in the event that began at 7 p.m. and ends at 5:15 a.m. today. Teams camped through the night and continued to walk on the track lined with luminaries with the names of cancer survivors and victims. Across the country communities participate in the event to not only raise money, but to acknowledge those who have battled cancer.

“It’s pretty emotional and you know just to see all the names and to be walking with everybody and to know all the people on the track at the time has been touched by cancer,” Mutuku said.

Her daughters asked if they could be at the front of the line during the survivor’s lap, she said.

“I said ‘Yeah, we’ll be in front. In 20 years we’ll be in front,'” Mutuku said.