Hundreds of people raised awareness for cancer at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall. 

Cancer never sleeps so that’s why people will be walking 24 hours at Relay for Life in Happy Valley on Saturday and Sunday. 

Despite the somber topic, it’s important to keep everyone’s energy up.

“So we have certain activities throughout the weekend. We have fun laps, we have crazy sock laps, PJ laps, all those types of things just to get people like, fun and excited about the event,” American Cancer Society Staff Partner Jen Leydig said.

While walking hours on end might be a big accomplishment for some, cancer survivor Carol Findley said she’s celebrating an even greater feat.

“This year is a big milestone for me. I’m celebrating 25 years of survivorship,” said Findley.

Carol was diagnosed with colon cancer when she was 27 years old. 

Her limits were tested but strength endured. Findley was cancer free for several years, but then she received another diagnosis.

“I had been diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, which is a genetic disease…so that required me to have testing more frequently, and that’s when they found the second bout of cancer. So in addition the 25 years, I’m celebrating seven years with my second bout of cancer.”

After a lengthy battle, she hopes that only one thing comes from events like this.

“Hopefully, my goal is that, ya know, someday no one will have to hear the words ‘You have cancer,'” Findley said.

Until that happens, survivors and fighters will continue to celebrate, remember and fight back.

People will be walking all the way through the night until 10 a.m. Sunday morning.