Some people, when told of the Relay for Life, might think of a typical race in which teams strive for gold medals or blue ribbons. But the noncompetitive, family-friendly event, which is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, is more than that.

“People, right off the bat with the term ‘relay,’ they think it’s an actual relay race, which it is, but it’s not your typical race,” Brenda Hunter Martin, an event organizer, said. “It’s more of a celebration. The point is walking the entire time in remembrance of people we’ve lost, or survivors.”

This is Martin’s 10^th year as a participant in the fundraiser. The event is set for 4-10 p.m. April 22 at Katy City Park, 5720 Franz Road.

Martin said she became involved with Relay for Life when her husband, Tal, was diagnosed with oral cancer.

“It was terrible,” Martin said. “They took an entire half of his jaw out and rebuilt it with a fibula and a titanium rod. It was a 12-hour surgery, pretty grueling.”

When she first learned of the Relay for Life from a brochure, she said, she also was initially turned off by the idea of running in an actual relay race. But she changed her mind.

“I looked at it, and looked into it, and said, ‘This is cool,’” Martin said. “He was diagnosed in February and that April was a relay. I formed a team quickly and we joined the relay that first year he was diagnosed.”

Her team, called Team KT, honors two people who lost their cancer battles. K is for Kim France, who died of ovarian cancer in 2018. Martin said her daughter and France were best friends. T is for Tal, a former Marine who later worked at Acme Brick in Sealy. He died in 2021 at age 66.

Martin said the event honors both cancer survivors and caregivers as well as remembering those who have passed. About 10 teams have signed up to participate in the relay this year, and more teams are being sought.

Martin said money gets raised through donations and sponsorships. The event also features an onsite auction and luminaria bags are sold for $10. The bags commemorate those lost, as well as the survivors. Martin said the Relay for Life, locally, has raised over $100,000 over the past few years, and sponsors are being sought.

The ceremony at which the luminaria bags are lit and placed along the walking trail, Martin said, is very moving.

“We turn the lights out and have some speakers,” Martin said.

Last year was the first Relay for Life in which Tal was not a participant, and Martin said that made it difficult for her.

“It was a tough one,” Martin said.

Registration—whether as an individual or registering a team—is free and can be done through the website relayforlife.org/katytx.