The 2017 Knoxville Cancer Relay begins tomorrow and will run through Friday.

The KNIA/KRLS Big Red Radio will be hosting the event and will be kicking things off with music and announcements at the kick-off party at Ken Locke Stadium at 6 p.m. which is sponsored by the Knoxville Hy-Vee, and will feature their Thursday night meal for $5. The first set of runners will begin the relay at 7 p.m. Knoxville Mayor Brian Hatch tells KNIA/KRLS News due to last week’s threats made at the high school and middle school the middle school cross country meet was canceled, so organizers reached out to the school district and asked that the middle school cross country team be the first set of runners for this year’s relay. Runners will have the option of running a one mile, three mile or five mile loop. At the same time as the first runners hit the track, Iowa State Savings Bank will present a free will donation Lucas Beebe concert that will be held until 9 p.m. Proceeds from the kick-off event and relay will all go towards the annual best-in-the-nation Coaches vs Cancer event which will be held January 20th. The relay will run 24 straight hours and conclude at the beginning of the Knoxville High School football game Friday at 7 p.m.