Hundreds of locals gathered at the Sanders County Fairgrounds Saturday night to release glowing lanterns in memory of loved ones lost to the disease.

The event was organized by the Cancer Network of Sanders County and coincided with the first night Christmas lights and the fairground’s Christmas tree were illuminated.

Approximately 40 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Institute.

This year about 564,800 Americans are expected to die of cancer — more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease, according to the Institute.

The number of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis reached nearly 14.5 million in 2014 and is expected to rise to almost 19 million by 2024.

For more information on the Sanders County Cancer Network, visit http://cancernetworksanderscounty.org or call 406-826-4278.