The 91原创 Relay for Life kicked off Friday evening at McLeod Athletic Park with a walk by cancer survivors.

Several dozen cancer survivors in yellow shirts led the first lap of the event, the 13th annual fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

The began with a tribute to The Gallery, and to the team鈥檚 late founding member Brenda Alberts. Alberts died of cancer last summer.

鈥淏renda was loved by the community, and gave generously to everyone,鈥� said Darren Ng, the master of ceremonies for the event.

The team, which included a host of past and current members, was given the Community Champion Award by the Canadian Cancer Society, in honour of 13 years of participation in 91原创鈥檚 relay.

鈥淎pparently they worked on it months in advance,鈥� said a surprised Kari Medos, team captain of The Gallery. The Relay organizers kept the award a secret from the team until they were on stage.

The team made a lap carrying pictures of Alberts, accompanied by her husband Kurt.

鈥淪he would have been absolutely moved that her legacy lives on as strongly as it does,鈥� said Medos.

Miriam Senges was this year鈥檚 keynote speaker 鈥� each year a cancer survivor tells their story.

Senges tale of surviving four cancer diagnoses was told to the 91原创 Advance .

After the opening lap by survivors, the event was mostly fun and games for participants.

Young high school and middle school students took part in a spontaneous dance-off around the stage as pop hits from the 1970s to the present day played over the sound system.

Others stuffed themselves into inflatable plastic human-sized hamster balls for races.

A fastpitch station and a lacrosse site allowed participants to test their mettle.

A service club served up free doughnuts, hot chocolate, and even rootbeer floats for a time, helping fuel the walkers who headed around the track from just after 6 p.m. to midnight.

A somber note was struck during the luminaries ceremony just after 10 p.m.

The track was lined with white paper bags, many of them decorated for and dedicated to people who had lost their lives to cancer. Throughout the evening, participants had been writing messages on more luminaries in memory of their loved ones.

Volunteer Bev Dornan announced the luminaries ceremony, and became choked up when reading some of the messages dedicated to those who lost their lives.

The stadium lights were doused and a moment of silence was observed as the candles within the luminaries became the only light for a few minutes. The White Spot Pipe Band led the relayers in a lap of remembrance.

The Relay ended at midnight with awards to the top fundraising team and individual.

The Pipesharks raised $16,200 this year, and Kari Medos raised $6,100 on her own for The Gallery.

Team Senges won the Team Spirit Costume award, and Brookswood Secondary鈥檚 contingent won the Youth Team Spirit award.

By the end of the night, Ng announced that this year鈥檚 Relay had already raised $140,000

鈥淭hat number is still growing as we speak,鈥� Ng said.