As the sun began to set Saturday evening, hundreds of people came to Bel Air High School's Al Cesky Field, pitching their tents and setting up their campsites in preparation for the 30th annual Relay for Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Organizers said the overnight Bel Air event raised more than $70,000 for cancer research.
Members of the 55 participating teams gathered around a portable stage to hear some announcements and listen to a few speakers, including two time cancer survivor Debbie Stewart of Bel Air.
Stewart shared some of her story and motivated the crowd, as relay participants geared up for the first lap of the evening, called the Survivor's Lap.
Donning purple survivor shirts and white sashes and led by the Jarrettsville Young Marines, the group of cancer survivors took to the track.
They were followed by the Caregiver Lap and finally team participants began their trek walking around the track lined with luminaries with names of family, neighbors and friends who have lost the fight and some that are still fighting the deadly disease.
Among the Bel Air Relay for Life's top sponsors were Harford Mutual Insurance $10,000, Progressive Radiology $6,000 and Lifetime Dental $2,500.
The top fundraising teams were the Gold Ribbon Gang, $9,400, Progressive Radiology $6,500 and the Lifetime Lifesavers with $4,600.
The top three individual fundraisers were Veronica Littlejohn $1,900, Sarah Paquin $3,175 and Debbie Jones $4,743.