For the past 11 years, Stacey Johnson and members of the Tyler’s Krispy Kritters team have stayed up all night walking around tracks to raise money for the annual Relay for Life event in Bradford.

The group, as well as 15 other teams, will once again gather at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford beginning at 4 p.m. today through 4 p.m. Saturday to raise funds used by the American Cancer Society for research and local services.

“I think everybody is excited about the Relay this year,” Johnson said. “My team stays up all night … and I crash the next day.”

Johnson said her team is doing a life-size game of Trouble, as this year’s overall Relay theme is “Family Fun Night.”

“I’m excited to see what people think,” she added. Her husband, David Johnson, said their team, which is one of the oldest at the Relay, was started years ago by his wife’s uncle.

“We had a team, and then after so many years of doing this, we found out our son, Tyler, had developed cancer,” David Johnson said. Sadly, the Johnsons lost their 18-year-old son to Ewing’s sarcoma, a type of lung cancer.

“We battled for three years and lost the battle in 2013,” David Johnson shared.

Stacy Williams, event lead, said the Relay’s goal for 2017 is to raise $63,000.

“The team captains have been meeting monthly during the year and we can’t believe the weekend is upon us,” Williams said. “We are very excited and are confident with the community’s support we will meet the goal and hopefully exceed. We have been encouraging everyone in the community to stop out to Pitt-Bradford Campus to support our efforts. “

Williams said the 24-hour event will have something for everyone, including music, games, food, and more.    

“Two of my favorite activities  are the luminarias on Friday evening and the Survivor Ceremony on Saturday,” she continued. “Monies raised through the Relay support research, provide resources to newly diagnosed patients, and our local programs such as the Road to Recovery Program and Look Good Feel Better Program.”

Williams noted the Relay is a collaborative effort among many people and entities.

“We have all been touched by this dreadful disease in some way and most people want to be able to actively do something about it,” she continued. “Relay for Life gives people the opportunity to do just that, whether they join a team, donate money, time or talent or provide support through attendance.”

Williams said the schedule of activities are included in the following itinerary:

• 4 p.m., Starting lap.

• 4:45 p.m., Opening Ceremony, Fight Back theme.

•  5 p.m., Music by Dark Water Duo.

• 6 p.m., Water/Soda Pong and music by Tyler Brinker.

• 7 p.m., People Mache Lap. Music by Vapor. Participants of the event should bring duct tape and newspaper and/or magazines, along with crazy ideas.

• 8 p.m., Luminaria Ceremony.

• 9 p.m., Miss Relay Kick Off and Lap.

• 10 p.m., Nite Ball. Similar to playing soccer or basketball. Teams will try to get the ball into the other teams bins on either side of field.

• 11 p.m., Glow Stick Volleyball. Teams will be placed on either side of the court and try to keep the ball from touching the ground.

• Midnight,  Zumba/Cardio.

• 1 a.m., Random dance songs will be played while teams walk the track. Teams can also dance to the songs while they walk.

• 2 a.m., Glow in the Dark Lap. Team members will walk the track dressing in as much glow in the dark stuff as they can, the most creative wins.

• 3 a.m., Color Purple Lap. Celebrates cancer survivors by being decked out in purple, the color of Relay for Life.

• 4 a.m., Buddy Twin Lap. Two members dress alike and walk the track. The pair with the best matching/twin outfits will win.

• 5 a.m., Pajama Lap. Participants wear pajamas while walking the track.

• 8 a.m., Coffee & Canvas. Money Love Cure fundraiser. Participants can enjoy the morning with a cup of coffee and painting. The $30 fee will cover coffee, canvas and paint supplies.

• 10 a.m., Hungry Hippo. A player is pushed by their team to the center of the play area and attempts to grab (or place under a basket) as many balls as possible and return them to his or her team’s corner.

• 11 a.m., Flushing Out Cancer. Singles or teams will try and throw toilet paper into a toilet seat and the group with the most points at the end wins. Prince and Princess Introduction of Royal Court. Entertainment by Studio B Dancers.

• Noon, Survivor Ceremony and Lap

• 1 p.m., Water Balloon Toss. Requires two players from a team. Team captain meeting at Survivor Tent. Music by Shane Rimer.

• 3 p.m., Closing Ceremony. Announcement of Prince and Princess winners. Bubble Lap.