As those who know her would surely attest, Carol Hill doesn't like to be the center of attention.

Yet, her condition as a cancer survivor has no doubt placed her at the forefront in the fight against its evil clutches.Hill, a cancer survivor in her 50s, was among the many individuals who teamed up to raise money at the 10th annual Relay For Life of Palmerton and Surrounding Communities.The 24-hour event - of which the theme was Cancer Loses When Everyone Plays to Win - was held Saturday into Sunday at the Palmerton Area High School stadiumA cancer survivor of 4 1/2 years, Hill was diagnosed with inflammatory cancer in Dec. 2006, after a small lump was detected.Just six months prior to that, Hill said she went to her doctor to have a mammogram done."I think that was the hardest part for me," Hill said. "It's one of the reasons I've been battling it."Since then, Hill said she's endured her share of ups and downs."I think everyone, no matter what kind of cancer they have, you just want to crawl into bed," she said. "A couple of days later, I thought to myself, I've got grandkids; I've got to get up and fight."Hill continued to receive radiation treatments, only to learn that her cancer had spread to her left breast. That, she said, resulted in more radiation and chemotherapy.Through it all, Hill said her family - specifically her husband, Edward, children Connie, Martina and Eric, and sister, Nancy Paisley, have been right by her side."Everyone's done their share, and been so supportive," she said. "I think that's half the battle."Despite her condition, Hill said she's continued to work full-time, and added her place of employment has been very supportive."My doctor's been very good," she said. "His managing of my condition has been very good for me.Hill said her daughter, Connie Smith, who served as event chair for this year's event, began a team in her honor called Chills Crusaders, of which she was team captain. The team was formed in 2008 after Hill's family attended the 2007 Relay For Life. Also, Hill's other daughter, Martina, served as Luminara chair.As for Relay, Hill said the event "makes you understand what people are going through.""There's always hope; this is just another hurdle you jump over," she said. "There's always light at the end of the tunnel."Hill said she'll continue to fight the disease head-on."I don't think cancer is a death sentence," she said. "That's how I feel."The event concluded with a Fight Back ceremony and one last lap by the event participants who worked all year to raise money and many of whom spent the entire 24 hours at the track.Based on the unofficial results, Smith said there were 444 registered participants that comprised 36 teams. The 153 registered Survivors were honored in a special Celebrate ceremony, Smith said.As part of the Luminaria ceremony, Smith said 368 lums lit the path, as those who have lost their fight were remembered and those who continue to battle the fight were honored.Smith said the top three fundraising teams at this year's event were Star Spangled Banners ($11,452); Pencor Hope Faith ($8,878); and Friends in the Fight ($6,645).With the fiscal year close at Aug. 31, 2011, the Relay has currently raised $84,654 of its $90,000 goal, which represents an increase from the 2010 event, she said.Special guests at this year's event were state Rep. Doyle Heffley, Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, and candidate for Commissioner Tom Gerhard, along with Jim Thorpe Mayor Sofranko.Along with the traditional walk along the track, there were plenty of fun activities and games on tap throughout the event. The Jim Thorpe scouts team, Troop Triple Nickel, was instrumental, as it put out the Luminaria and moved chairs from location to location.Chris Borger, publicity chair, said Relay For Life "is much more than a fundraiser.""It is designed to involve the entire community in cancer education, increase awareness of the mission of the American Cancer Society and its advocacy efforts, and to learn about programs and services available to cancer patients, their caregivers and families," Borger said. "Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event intended to bring together people to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back.The life-changing event brings more than 3.5 million people together annually to Celebrate the lives of the survivors who have battled cancer and are winning the fight, to remember loved ones lost to the disease and to Fight Back by making a commitment to put an end to cancer.The theme of last year's event was "Celebrating, Remembering, and Fighting Back through the Decades". That event, which had 253 Luminarias, 486 participants, 144 survivors, and a total of 46 teams, raised $83,439.Palmerton's Relay for Life - the only of its kind in Carbon County - was one of 217 community and collegiate events that raised $21.1 million statewide in 2007. Over $1 million has been raised since the event formed in Palmerton in 2002.The first Relay For Life event was held in 1985 in Tacoma, Wash., by Dr. Gordy Klatt, and is the nation's largest overnight, 24-hour, nonprofit walk event.