The 2011 Brown County Relay for Life kicked off Friday evening at Gordon Wood Stadium with the theme of “Tooning Out Cancer”.  Close to 50 teams set up tents decorated with cartoon characters to raise money for the American Cancer Society to help find a cure for cancer.

Months of fundraising activities by participating teams came together at the Relay for Life event.  As of 7pm Friday, donations totaling $56,843.40 were turned in to organizers, but many more donations are expected to come in during the event and for a few weeks after.

The Brown County event kicked off Friday night with the arrival of honorary co-chairs, cancer survivors Brad Wells and Carlee Richardson by helicopter. (see videos below for their introductions).

The honorary chairs then led the cancer survivor lap followed by a lap for caregivers around the stadium track.  After dark, luminaries were lit and the lights turned out as the names of loved ones lost to cancer were read along with survivors.

Relay for Life is the signature fundraising event of the American Cancer Society where individuals and teams walk/run overnight to show their commitment in the fight against cancer and to help raise money.