COEUR d'ALENE - Laura Narolski is a cancer survivor.

"My whole platform is hope," she said. "Most of the time, hope is such a casual word. But once you become a cancer patient, that word takes on a different meaning. If you don't have hope, you give up. Hope is your pilot light."

On May 17 at 6:30 p.m. Narolski will be joining other survivors for the Survivor's Lap of this year's Relay for Life at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds track. The event is a fundraiser in support of the American Cancer Society.

Between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., volunteer teams comprised of survivors and others will walk the track, ensuring that at least one team member is present on the track at any one time to symbolize the fact that cancer never sleeps.

Thousands of communities across the nation annually hold Relay for Life events to commemorate the lives of those who have faced cancer and to raise funds to fight back against the disease.

This year's theme is "Century of Hope."

So far, 356 people have registered for the relay and each participant is asked to raise a minimum of $100.

Groups of walkers will camp out all night at the track, while food, games and activities are scheduled to provide entertainment. For those interested in the relay who need a team to hook up with, event coordinator Suzanna Spencer is there to help.

"Anyone and everyone is invited to take part in this," she said. "If you don't have a team, I can find you one."

Spencer can be reached at 277-7856.

Bill Kaufman, who's 75 years old, will also be a participant. Kaufman's wife died of cancer in 2008 and since then he said he has been "out to beat it."

He plans to walk until 11:30 p.m. and then return at 6 a.m. the next morning. In addition, he's active in an organization called Bras on Dudes that recently held its own cancer fundraiser.

This will be Narolski's first year at the Relay, but she is no stranger to challenges. "I kept running all the way through my treatment," she said. "It was my emotional health. Though I had cancer, I didn't want it to have me."