“Cancer never sleeps” is the mantra Relay for Life participants use to stay motivated during the all-night walk to fight cancer.

The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life will be held in DeKalb from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. April 2 and 3 at NIU’s Student Recreation Center.

Since 1985, Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s signature event, has raised more than $1 billion and continues to raise thousands of dollars each year for cancer research.

Currently, there is one relay for every 100 people in the United States, said Erin Sullivan, income development representative for the American Cancer Society.

The event consists of teams of 8 to 15 people who camp out together in an effort to raise money to help fight cancer.

Each team is required to have at least one member walking or running on the track at all times.

Once members fill out a team roster and receive a packet for fundraising, they can begin raising money. Anyone from the NIU or the DeKalb community may participate.

Unique fundraising ideas are part of what makes Relay for Life different and fun, Sullivan said.

“People have car washes and sell Krispy Kremes to fraternity houses on Saturday and Sunday mornings,” Sullivan said. “A group of teenage girls even decorated a toilet with a sign saying ‘help us flush out cancer,’ and charged people to remove it from their lawn or wherever it happened to be.”

Profits from the relay go toward the four goals of the American Cancer Society, which include research, education, advocacy and patient services.

“Patient service is the heart of what we are all about,” Sullivan said. “We are interested in helping people who currently have cancer, so we offer tons of information through our Web site, and we offer classes and services designed to make people feel better.”

Past participants said people should participate in this event whether they are directly connected to people who have cancer.

“It promotes awareness and gets people to realize the impact of the disease,” said Laura Houston, a junior media studies and journalism major.

Relay for Life also is recommended to enrich the college experience.

“At the college level, you’ll want to be able to look back and remember that you had a well-rounded experience,” Sullivan said. “It’s a chance to enhance the NIU community, while at the same time making an impact.”

For more information about Relay for Life, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.