Cruise over to the Niles High School track and do more than just take a walk on a summer afternoon.

Join the fight against cancer.

The annual Niles-Buchanan Relay for Life event will be held at Niles High School starting at noon today. Around 59 teams will take to the track to raise awareness for the benefit of cancer research. The event will include a survivor’s walk and a luminaria ceremony.

Director of the American Cancer Society’s, Southwest Michigan Area Service Çenter, Ken Greschak put a call out on the official page for the Niles-Buchanan chapter asking participants to “pack the track.”

Recognizing the effect a recession can have on fundraising, Greschak said, “we are ahead-again, ahead-of last year’s pace when you look at our on-line efforts. We have more teams, more participants and more money raised via our websites as compared to last year at this time. And remember, last year was a fabulous Relay year. We raised right here in our corner of southwest Michigan some $1.7 million through Relay For Life in 2008.”

Walkers will stay on the track overnight with the event concluding at 8 a.m. Sunday.