Blake Kingree, left, and Shelby Kingree of Team Nordenia, participated in the Relay for Life.

Nordenia's Mark Gum dressed in accordance with the team's Aloha theme.

Team Jenny Style provided face-painting and manicures at its Relay for Life campsite.

Love was the obvious reason why participants at the Relay for Life gave donations of time and money.

The Jackson Relay for Life on Aug. 3 and 4 raised about $35,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Seventeen teams and about 200 people participated in the overnight event to raise money for cancer programs and research.

With the public, entertainment providers and committee members, there were 300 to 400 people at the event.

The Relay for Life took place at the Jackson City Park and was a celebration of cancer survivorship.

The overnight relay mirrored the phases people go through when they learn the have cancer.

The light and darkness of day and night represent the physical effects, emotions and mental state of cancer patients while they undergo treatment. The setting sun symbolizes the time that people have been diagnosed as having cancer. The day is getting darker and this represents cancer patients' states of mind as they feel that their lives are coming to an end. As the evening goes on, it gets colder and darker, just as the emotions of cancer patients do. Between 1 and 2 a.m. represents the time when cancer patients start treatments. They become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on, possibly wanting to give up.

The Relay for Life walkers feel much the same way but cannot give up or stop, just as cancer patients cannot.

Between 4 and 5 a.m. represents the coming of the end of treatment for cancer patients. Once again, they are tired, but they know they will make it. The rising sun represents the end of treatment for cancer patients. They see the light at the end of the tunnel and know life will go on. The morning light brings on a new day full of life, excitement and new beginnings for cancer patients.

Just as participants leaving the relay are exhausted and weak, their thoughts are of cancer patients leaving their last treatments. Most importantly for everyone to remember is that there is no finish line until a cure is found.

The luminaries are standard procedure at a Relay for Life event. Candles in bags were placed along the lake track at the Jackson City Park for a donation of $10, to honor loved ones lost to cancer or battling cancer.

The history of luminaries and meaning is interesting.

In 1987, Seattle was preparing for its first Relay for Life. It had arranged for lights but discovered at about noon on the day of the event that for some reason the lights weren't going to work. One of the members suggested lining the track with luminaries as they walked or ran. Supplies were purchased, and the "luminaria light" idea was implemented.

The atmosphere of the track with its soft lighting, made it conducive for participants to share their reasons for being there. The idea caught on, and with it, a ceremony to honor cancer survivors and remember those who had lost the battle.