RATHDRUM - Activities for the third Rathdrum Relay for Life kick off tonight at Lakeland High with hopes of raising between $25,000 to $30,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The opening ceremony is at 6 p.m. on the school's football field and track. Activities continue until 7 a.m. Saturday.

"We have a lot of educational and family-oriented activities planned," said Tamie Phelps, an organizer of the event.

As of Monday, 17 teams consisting of 184 people had registered as participants for the event.

Last year there were 22 teams and more than $26,000 was raised.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, who is a cancer survivor, Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes and Hayden Mayor Ron McIntire will speak during the opening ceremony. The cancer survivors' lap will start at 6:15 p.m., followed by the survivor dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Clayton Layne Darnell of Spirit Lake will play a variety of music from 8-11 p.m.

The luminary ceremony - in which names are read in memory or in honor of people - will be held at 10 p.m.

"That's always an emotional part," Phelps said.

A cake walk and scavenger hunt are among the other activities.

There will be a silent auction and individual teams will have prizes to auction off.

The event will include a strong youth presence as the Lakeland High cheer team has 31 members. The Athol Elementary team had raised nearly $2,000 as of Monday.

The Twin Lakes Village golf tournament raised $1,800.