Relay For Life, a walk-a-thon sponsored by the American Cancer Society, provided free pizza to draw in crowds around noon on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

The purpose of the event was to draw in participants and inform students about the upcoming community-wide marathon, which will be held April 31 through May 1 on Skyline College’s track. Relay For Life is a 24-hour walk-a-thon with entertainment and food provided. Team Recruitment Chair Diana Nation said, “It’s like a big party.”

The fundraiser aims to collect money to finance cancer research, services for cancer patients, and cancer awareness and education. Volunteer Virginia Kroger said that it is an overnight event because “cancer never sleeps.”

After the free pizza, Event Chair Raymond Parenti-Kurtila urged students to form teams to participate: “We encourage you guys to start up teams.” Skyline’s Public Safety Chief Brian Tupper is one of those who signed up on behalf of Skyline’s Public Safety Department to join the fight against cancer.

Skyline student Kelley Kennedy’s own grandmother Patricia Ballardo, a colon cancer survivor, joined the event and shared her own story. Ballardo was diagnosed with a fist-sized malignant tumor encased in calcium in 1998 and had it surgically removed. She underwent chemotherapy and the cancer went into remission. Now, she gets a colonoscopy every four years to keep her colon in check.

“I feel very fortunate because I am a survivor,” said Ballardo.

For this year’s event, Kroger said they are hoping for better weather and more participants than before. Last year’s event was foggy, yet the 137 participants still braved the fog for 24 hours to walk around the track.

The Relay For Life participants are going to have meetings in the cafeteria at 1:45 p.m. every Wednesday. Students are welcome to join in and ask questions regarding the fundraiser. For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org.