Tulsans Walk and Run to Honor Cancer Survivors - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

People affected by cancer and their supporters gathered Friday night for the 2012 Tulsa Relay for Life event.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) holds the event annually in order to honor cancer survivors, remember people who have died from cancer, and to raise funds and awareness to help prevent cancer deaths.

The relay event began 7:00 p.m. Friday with an opening ceremony at ONEOK Field in the 200 block of North Elgin.

Teams of people camp out at ONEOK Field and take turns walking or running around a track or path.

Because cancer never sleeps, the relay is an overnight event.

The survivor lap began at 7:30 p.m.

Relayers do not have to walk all night, but each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event.

A luminaria ceremony began at 10:00 p.m.

The closing ceremony will be 6:30 a.m.

Cancer is the general name for a group of more than 100 diseases.

Although there are many kinds of cancer, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control.

Untreated cancers can cause serious illness and death.

Jacki Adair-Smith was diagnosed with cancer seven months after her husband died from cancer in 2010. She was diagnosed during a routine screening procedure.

"Screening procedures work, and they save lives," Adiar-Smith said. "My life was saved by a screening procedure."

Although Adair-Smith participated in Relay for Life in Muskogee for many years prior to her own cancer diagnosis, this is her first year to participate as a cancer survivor.

She has been cancer free for one year.

So far, the 2012 Tulsa Relay for Life has 646 participants and 59 teams.

$175,982 has been raised so far.

Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society (ACS) for cancer research.

Adair-Smith said the money raised would provide "...much needed resources for cancer patients in this area."