The goal of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life is to ultimately find a cure for cancer, and survivors like Julie Dahlgren and Jan Nuszkiewicz of Coeur d'Alene know just how important it is to win the fight against cancer.

"I've got to be around to watch these guys grow up," Dahlgren said, pointing to a few of the children in the pavilion at McEuen Park in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday. "My six angels — six grandkids — I've got to be here for them."

Dahlgren, a survivor of kidney cancer, said her first surgery was the same day as Relay For Life last year. It was at almost Stage 4 when they found it, she said, and one year later all her scans and blood work look cancer free.

For Nuszkiewicz, the scar across her throat is evidence of the thyroid cancer she had 31 years ago.

"It was pretty scary back then," Nuszkiewicz said. "That many years ago, I was scared to death. I was very fortunate."

Nuszkiewicz was raising three daughters and working as a waitress when her doctor told her she had to have the surgery. The night before her surgery she told the doctor she did not want to do it, but he told her she had to. She still has some vocal cord issues from time to time where her voice will change, but she doesn't regret doing the surgery.

"I'm a great-grandma now," Nuszkiewicz said, adding that she is up to five kids, four granddaughters and a great-grandson — most of which still live in the Coeur d'Alene area. "I'm so glad I'm still here to enjoy them."

Both women, along with about 80 more survivors, 41 teams and more than 300 participants, took part in Saturday's 19th annual Relay For Life of Kootenai County. Many donned purple T-shirts that read: "Painting the world purple with hope," and each survivor wore a medallion around their neck. The relay started at noon as the survivors prepared to walk a "Survivor Lap" around the “track” circling the pavilion area at McEuen Park to celebrate their victory over cancer. All other participants followed suit with the official opening lap and the 12-hour event was underway.

Relay For Life events are held across the world to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones who died, and to fight back against the disease.

"It's all about bringing the community together in the fight against cancer," said Whitney Jones, ACS community manager for Relay For Life.

Jones said this is the first year the event was held during the day in Coeur d'Alene. She said it typically ran from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but the hope was that more participants would stay throughout the event. The Luminaria Ceremony, which took place at 10 p.m., is one of the elemental moments of the relay, Jones said. Luminaria bags are lit with candles all around the “track” to honor loved ones who died or are fighting the disease.

Even with the somber memories of so many who were lost to the disease, the relay buzzed with energy as children ran around playing in the bounce house, bands kicked out song after song, and some of the teams set up booths with merchandise, food and games.

Daniel Nelson, volunteer event chair, said the goal this year was to give the event a county fair feeling.

"It's a lot of fun," Nelson said. "It's a carnival atmosphere — games, food, prizes — it's fun for the whole family."

For Christy Penewit, team captain for the Mountain West Bank team, it was her third year participating in the event and she said she enjoys it and enjoys seeing all the kids who come to the relay. She had a large "Plinko" board set up and a bunch of prizes to hand out such as water bottles, bracelets, stickers and other prizes.

"Kids love it — although the adults get pretty into it too," Penewit said.

Penewit said her team came in second, not too far behind STCU, with fundraising efforts prior to the event, raising $4,816.

Jones told The Press on Sunday that the relay raised more than $60,000 this year for the American Cancer Society. She said the average amount raised each year is about $50,000.

Jones said she was working to update the information online regarding the total amount raised, which can be found at www.relayforlife.org/coeurdaleneid. All the teams and individual amounts raised are listed on the website as well.