The 18th annual American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday on the track at the Watertown High School.

Teams of approximately 15 members will be setting up tents with decorations based on the theme, “Around the World in 20 Hours.” The slogan this year is “Passport to Hope.”

Last year the local relay raised approximately $94,000 for cancer research.

Relay For Life is a unique grassroots fundraising event in which individuals and teams of participants in nearly 5,100 communities nationwide walk around a track to celebrate the lives of those who have faced cancer, remember loved one lost, commit to fight back against the disease. The money raised through the relay supports the American Cancer Society’s efforts to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Watertown’s 20-hour event kick’s off Friday with an opening ceremony. The money hut, food hut and silent auction opens at that time.

Survivor registration will begin at 4 p.m. with the survivor ceremony set for 7 p.m. Survivors will join together to take a lap, unified in victory and hope, while the rest of the event’s participants line the track to cheer them on.

A luminaria ceremony will remember those lost to cancer and honor those who have survived. There will also be caregiver luminaria this year. Luminaria are paper bags that will be lit with a candles and placed along the track at 9 p.m.

The luminaria ceremony is a way to remember loved ones lost to cancer and to pay tribute to cancer survivors. The luminaria illuminate the track as the darkness of the night begins.

At both the survivor and luminaria ceremonies, Kevin Nowak of Indiana will be reading his poetry. He will be donating a poem book to each survivor.

New this year will be bingo at 1 a.m. Saturday. Prizes will be awarded, according to Rachel Orlopp, American Cancer Society representative.

There will also be a variety of children’s activities during the 20 hour event.

New this year will be passport stamping that ties in with the theme of the event. Teams selected different countries to represent. From 5 to 6 a.m. Saturday, participants will walk the track from campsite to campsite to get the passport marked off. Those who get all the participating teams stamps will be entered in a prize drawing.

There will be plenty of food served during the event. A fish fry will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. Culver’s of Watertown will be in the food hut at midnight and a pancake breakfast will be served from 6 to 10 a.m.

The cancer society, which celebrated its 25th anniversary of Relay For Life in 2010,  is continuing with its birthday theme. There will be a special cake decorating contest with judging set for 9:30 a.m. The cakes will be sold at an auction at 10 a.m.

Closing ceremonies will follow at 11 a.m. and the event will conclude at noon.

This is another special opportunity to make a difference, one that doesn’t cost a dime, just some time, according to the society.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Watertown is one of the selected sites where people can fight back against cancer through research.

Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) enrollment will be taken Friday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. CPS-3 will help researchers at the American Cancer Society and around the world better understand what causes cancer and how to prevent it.

The theme is “Research Today for a Cancer-free Tomorrow.”

Anyone between the ages of 30-65, who has never been diagnosed with cancer, and is willing to commit to the study long term, can enroll. Individuals who choose to enroll do not have to be registered relay team participants.

There will be a brief survey given at the site. The online survey will take about 30 minutes. A waist measurement will also be taken along with a small amount of blood.

After the initial enrollment, participants will receive a follow-up survey in two to three years for the next 30 years that would take about 45 minutes to complete. Participants will be asked to make a long-term commitment to the study. The study will focus on the participant’s lifestyle choices.

For more information, visit www.cancer.org/cps3 call 888.604.5888 or e-mail  cps3@cancer.org.