You Don't Have to Have a Team, or Cancer, to Relay in Rochester

On a middle school track and field this weekend, Rochester residents will walk, laugh, cry, dance, shop and be entertained.

All the while, they'll be fighting cancer.

The annual begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at . It continues, for 24 hours, into Sunday morning, and features nonstop activities throughout the event.

This is the 13th year of the relay; this year, there are 517 relay team members on 43 teams, and so far they have raised almost $45,000.

For the relay team members, it's a chance to honor loved ones fighting cancer and also an opportunity to spend the whole day bonding with friends and strangers alike.

Organizers want the community to know it's open to anyone — and offers a great opportunity for family fun.

"You don't need to be a part of a relay team to join us," said Sheryl Albert, a co-chair of the event.

"The more, the merrier."

A 24-hour high

Relay For Life is known nationwide as a celebration of life, a celebration of health, a celebration of cancer survivorship and a way to pay tribute to those who have lost their battle with cancer.

Albert first became involved in relay when she was asked to judge team tents during the first year of the event. "I went out and walked around and watched everyone. I knew right away it was an event I needed to be a part of," she said.

Teams normally have a theme and decorate their tents accordingly. During the event they have fundraisers — a dunk tank or a used book sale or crafts, to name a few examples — that help contribute to the fun and to the fundraising.

"The feeling you get when you are there — you are on a high for 24 hours," Albert said.

This year, Albert and other organizers are excited that the Rochester relay is one of three in the country chosen for a . Called the CPS-3, it invites people ages 30-65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer to enroll; interested individuals are invited to find out more between 4 and 8 p.m. at the event.

"This is a great opportunity for people who want to help fight back against cancer on a non-monetary level," Albert said.

For a schedule of Relay events and activities, see

Relay teams

There are 43 teams participating in this year's event. Here's a list; click on the linked teams for a profile page with more information. If you are a team captain and want a profile page, please send us an email:

• Adams High School Key Club
• Adams Seniors
• Alan's Army
• Bankers for a Cure
• Cancer Battlefield
• Cancer Sucks
• Crittenton's Caring Crew
• DC
• Eddie & the City Cruisers
• Friends of Brendan
• J Crew
• Oak Arbor Church
• Rochester Area Jaycees & Friends
• Rochester High School
• Rochester Pride
• Sarah's Boosters
• Shakin Not Stirred
• Shamrocks
• Sole Sisters
• Stoney 2014
• Stoney Creek Football
• Stoney Creek Student Council
• Survival is Amazing
• Team HQPT
• Team Ta-Ta to Cancer
• The All-Nighters
• The Force
• Walgreens