Eric Furry began working with Relay for Life after his fiancee, Lyndsey Adams, was diagnosed with cancer in high school.
Years later, as the president of Colleges Against Cancer at Ball State University, he said he hopes to help raise awareness about cancer and believes it can be beaten.
Starting at 3 p.m. and lasting until 9 a.m. Saturday, participants will be able to honor those who have died and celebrate the survivors of cancer while taking laps around LaFollette Field during Relay for Life.
Teams of 10 to 20 students will relay for 18 hours, having a team member walking on the track at all times.
Furry said watching his fiancee motivated him to get involved because it is a fun way to help fight cancer through financing research for a cure.
"It really makes you think about people that have passed and survivors of cancer," he said.
Cory Adams, Lyndsey's brother and a committee member of Colleges Against Cancer, watched his sister suffer through her battle with cancer and decided he wanted to do something about it.
"It showed me what they go through and how important it is to give back," he said. "It can be beatable now, and we need to help others and support them on research and cures."
Cory said, while working with Relay for Life, he learned that one out of two men and one out of three women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life.
Furry said watching a loved one go through cancer is life changing.
"You begin to be aware of the important things, helping people that can't help themselves," he said.
Last year, 51 teams participated in Ball State's Relay for Life and raised about $35,000, according to previous Daily News reports.
This year, Furry said he hopes more students participate in the relay and that the money raised last year can be topped.
Bands will be playing throughout the event. They also have games, like Testicular Golf, to keep people up and moving during the event to make the night fun.
Furry said the all-night relay simulates what it is like to be a cancer patient.
"You become tired and cold just like cancer patients when they are having treatment," he said. "It's important to reflect on that."
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