Watch: American Cancer Society Kicks Off Relay For Life At Great Lakes Mall

The American Cancer Society kicked off its Relay for Life campaign Saturday afternoon at Great Lakes Mall.

Molly Smith, a community income development manager for American Cancer Society, said the Relay has raised about $2.7 million in Lake County since 1996. The ACS hopes to cross the $3 million threshold this year.

Volunteers honored cancer survivors Saturday and talked about the programs that the Relay helps fund -- programs like Road to Recovery; Look Good, Feel Better and the CPS-3 study.

Dr. Eain Murphy -- a researcher at Cleveland Clinic, whose reseach was first funded by the American Cancer Society -- thanked everyone who came to the kickoff. He said every penny raised makes a difference.

"It's through the hard work of people who are sitting in the audience right now," he said, "who go out and walk in the Relay, who do the Daffodil Days, the penny wars and the car washes. They all make a difference."

The Central Lake County Relay for Life will be on on June 1 and 2 this year at Lake Catholic High School. (See photos from last year's Relay at Lake Catholic.)

Click here for information on how to sign up or donate to the local relay.