This year’s Columbia Falls Relay for Life event will take place July 13-14 at the Columbia Falls High School track. The event starts at 6 p.m. and ends 13 hours later at 7 a.m., event organizer Dina Wood said.

Relay for Life celebrates community cancer survivors, their family and friends, as well as those suffering from the disease. Nationwide, the event raises millions for cancer research. In Columbia Falls, the goal is to raise $25,000, Wood said last week. To date, it’s raised more than $8,000 toward that goal.

While many people walk laps around the track, nobody has to walk to participate, Wood said — they just have to support the effort in body and spirit.

“Because cancer never sleeps, we give up one night of sleep in solidarity for those fighting the disease,” she said.

This year’s event will have a Mardi Gras theme and kicks off with a survivor lap around the track. Special K Multiple Choice Music will provide music, and Wood said they’re hoping to have some live bands as well.

So far, 21 teams and 127 individuals have signed up, but there’s no charge to attend the event, Wood said.