A team of community residents is preparing again to run through the night and the daytime this week, to help those fighting against cancer.

The fifth annual Knoxville Cancer Relay starts on Thursday night at 7 o’clock at Ken Locke Stadium; beginning then, and throughout the night, runners will navigate a five-mile course through town, hitting every school along the way.

They will be collecting pledges to put towards the Coaches vs. Cancer event coming up in January. Knoxville Mayor Brian Hatch is among the runners, and he tells KNIA/KRLS News there usually isn’t a formal goal, but this time around the participants have something to shoot for.

“This year…we are kind of putting a goal out there of $17,000 because this is our fifth year, and if we can raise $17,000 we will break the $100,000 mark for five years, which I think would be outstanding,” says Hatch.

Relay participants will leave every hour on the hour from Ken Locke Stadium, so there will be a convenient time for any and all runners who wish to join in.

The event ends at 7 o’clock Friday night, with the runners delivering the game ball for the varsity football game against Oskaloosa.