It is difficult — if not impossible — to find someone whose life has not been touched by cancer.

Over the course of a lifetime, the disease affects one in every two men and one in every three women in the United States, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society.

“You have a firsthand opportunity to say, ‘I am going to support this fight. I’m going to do everything in my power to fight back and help find a cure, find an end, to cancer,” said Cody Waters, an organizer of the Niles-Buchanan Relay for Life, which takes place Saturday at Niles High School.

The cancer research fundraising event is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to midnight — a change from previous years when it went for 24 hours.

Waters said organizers decided to shorten the event in order to attract more people.

The move appears to be working.

Waters said 38 relay teams had signed up as of Tuesday morning — seven more than in 2014’s event, which raised $78,000.

“Our goal is $80,000 this year,” said Waters, adding that he hopes to see more than 150 cancer survivors show up for the festivities.

“So far it is going pretty well. We already have more survivors than last year and we had 125 last year.”

The Niles-Buchanan Relay for Life, which asks teams to have at least one team member moving on the track at all times during the event, will follow the same format as in year’s past.

It starts at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies and a survivor’s lap. A ceremony recognizing survivors will take place at 5 p.m. with a survivor’s dinner to follow from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The luminaria ceremony, which asks participants to remember loved ones lost to cancer with illuminated paper bags, is scheduled for 10 p.m.

The event wraps up at midnight with closing ceremonies.

Waters said family-friendly activities, including an obstacle course and other games, will be held throughout the day.

People can sign up online by at the American Cancer Society’s website or at the event itself.

Survivors can also register online or at the event.

Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research and programs that support local cancer patients.