Homer's first Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, begins with an opening ceremony honoring individuals whose lives have been impacted by the disease. The event takes place at the Homer High School track beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. It wraps up Saturday, with a closing ceremony at 1 p.m.

Relay for Life dates back to Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash., who, in the mid-1980s, raised $27,000 in pledges to fight cancer by spending 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound's Baker Stadium. Patterned after Klatt's success, but designed as a relay involving teams of individuals, Relay for Life has grown to more than 3.5 million participants worldwide.

As of late Tuesday, with the door still open for others to become involved, 22 teams have raised more than $34,000 to help fight the war against cancer in Homer's relay, according to Carolyn Bishop, who is organizing the event for the southern Kenai Peninsula.

Friday's ceremony will include opening comments by Homer Mayor James Hornaday and others.

"After the opening remarks, we will start off the relay with a survivor lap of people who have had cancer and survived it or currently have cancer and are fighting it," Bishop said. "The second lap will be the survivors and their caregivers, because that's who survivors rely on to give them strength and hope and to take them to appointments, to say, 'Hang in there, you'll do it.' Then after that, the rest of us start walking."

Teams range from one individual to groups of 24 and are coming from as far north as Clam Gulch and as far south as the other side of Kachemak Bay, as well as other outlying communities.

Of the money raised by Relays for Life, American Cancer Society dedicates approximately 40 percent for community patient programs, 30 percent for other programs and services, 14 percent to organize other fundraising efforts and 6 percent for administration and management. "A good portion does stay within the state," Bishop said.

Event sponsors for this weekend's Relay include South Peninsula Hospital, Seldovia Village Tribe Health Clinic, Homer Emblem Club No. 350, Homer Medical Clinic, Gig's Beads and Things, Bear Creek Winery, Redden Marine, Tech Connect, Barb Scalzi, Kachemak Bay Lions and First National Bank Alaska.

Anyone wanting to be involved in Relay for Life can contact Bishop at 235-7491, 299-0073 or e-mail ladylill@gci.net. Registration can be done and the $10 entry fee paid at opening ceremonies.

During Saturday's 1 p.m. closing ceremony, awards will made to the top individual and team fundraisers.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.