The annual Relay for Life was held at the Georgia International Horse Park on Friday evening. It ended this morning at 7 a.m.

Festivities began at 6 p.m., with the Opening Ceremony at 7 p.m. and the Lap of Silence. A Luminary Ceremony to remember those lost to cancer and to honor those who have overcome cancer (left), were lit during the darker hours of the night.

"This is an annual event where caregivers and survivors, friends and family, can come out to the horse park and participate in the ACS event to raise money for cancer research and cancer assistance," said American Cancer Society Public Relations Chair Mike Kessler.

Kessler, who has been involved in the cause for over three years, is a cancer survivor himself. "It's the one time each year to celebrate, in a sense, the birthday of our mission and the birthday of all those who survived," he said.