"A combination of teams, volunteers, sponsors and community made this event a great success," said Marsha Resch during the 19th annual Relay for Life of Tamaqua and Surrounding Communities, which was held over the weekend.

This year's event took place at the Panther Valley stadium in Lansford.More than two dozen teams, consisting of more than 200 participants, took part, raising $81,762 during the event and via fundraisers held by teams before the Relay.There were many activities over 24-hour event that revolved around Relays themed 'Rock The Walk,' and consisted of singing, dancing, and more, such as beach ball hot potato lap, water balloons, backward lap, crazy hat and hair lap, dance lap, start of scavenger hunt, midnight pajama party, hands free eating contest, card games, poker lap, 'Minute to win it' game, bubble lap, musical chairs, and Miss Relay contest.Relay committee members said it cost $900 to rent the field at either the Tamaqua or Panther Valley stadium. Resch expressed her appreciation to the teachers from the Panther Valley School District who donated that amount."Although the Hometown Farmer's Market location has served us well for the past couple of years, we continue to be extremely grateful to the Dunn Family and Hometown Farmer's Market and Marie Houser and staff at Marie's Lunch for their wonderful generosity and support," said, Caylan Chanwik, Community Income Development Specialist, Carbon-Tamaqua Unit, East Central Division, American Cancer Society."The general consensus was that a stadium atmosphere would allow all parts of a Relay to be closer together and create a community feeling that a Relay is all about."We were especially excited to hold the Relay in a new community this year," said Chanwik. "We believe the new location held many benefits, such as covered bleachers, a large grassy area on which teams placed tent sites and the Panther Valley Band Boosters concession stand.""Thank God for everyday," said relay participant and security guard John "Jack" Ruzicka, a 2004 colon cancer survivor. "You need both strong family support and trust in your doctors."During the Relay, hundreds of candle-lit luminarias were placed around the track in honor of those currently battling cancer and to remember those lost to the disease.Cancer survivor Judy Ream of New Ringgold, who lost her husband to cancer, spoke about her strong fight against cancer."I stand before you tonight with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes and a pain deep down inside of me," Ream said, "not as a caregiver, or a survivor, but as a warrior against cancer."Also donating their entertainment services were DJ Brandon Fritz and DJ Brad and Kathy Murphy. Brad, whose cancer is in remission, has pH-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.Committee members also expressed their appreciation to the Lansford Borough and Panther Vally School Board for prepping the streets and doing other maintenance tasks before the Relay.During the Fight Back Ceremony, Mission Chair Dr. Rosalee Rehrig provided people with information and inspiration needed to fight back against cancer."The nighttime symbolizes the dark and scary time when a patient is diagnosed with cancer and going through treatment," said Rehrig. "The morning symbolizes coming into the light, completing therapy and God. Not everyone is lucky enough to get to this stage, but for those who do, its time to fight back."Chanwik said donations are still being collected for this year's Relay until Aug. 31.She added that the American Cancer Society is available 24/7 and can be reached by calling (800) 227-2345 or by going to Cancer.org.