The weather cooperated for another Friday night of Relay for Life walks around our area.

White birds were released to kick off the event at Midlakes High School in Clifton Springs.

The walkers in purple shirts were cancer survivors, providing inspiration for all of us.

Mark Wheeler came to the Relay for Life event last year to play in a band. This year, his reason is much more personal.

"When I came here last year my family hadn't been touched by cancer and it was March of this year my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor," Wheeler said. "Everything happens for a reason and you don't always know what that reason is but someday we find out."

There was also a Relay for Life event at Geneva High School.

As with every relay, they took time to remember the people who have been lost to cancer, to celebrate those who have survived and to fight back against the disease.

"The money that the American Cancer Society raises all goes towards research, towards places like the Hope Lodge in Rochester and for services for people that are battling cancer, so we want to be a part of that," said Emily Palladino, event chair.

R News is proud to be the media sponsor of Relay for Life events in our area. Our Leah George emceed the event at Midlakes High School while Seth Voorhees did the same in Geneva.

Relay for Life