COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The American Cancer Society is hoping walkers across South Carolina will help them take another step in the fight against cancer this weekend.
The Society's annual Relay for Life fundraiser kicks off Friday in dozens of locations throughout the state.
Organizers say teams take turns during the event to walk or run around a track throughout the night, raising money for cancer research.
The relays kick off with a celebratory lap just for cancer survivors. A special service also honors those who have lost their battles with cancer.
The American Society says nearly 21,000 South Carolina residents were diagnosed with cancer in 2008. That same year, nearly 9,000 people in the Palmetto State died from cancer.
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