Jun 16, 2014

Laurel held its annual Relay for Life at McCullough Field on June 7. Held in hundreds of communities all over the world, the Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s most successful fundraiser.

: Brandi Garrett, right, of Woodbridge, Va., holds her 5-year-old daughter, Madison Garrett, during the survivors’ lap at the Relay for Life in Laurel on June 7. Brandi grew up in Laurel and is an alumni of Laurel High School Class of 1999. Her daughter Madison is a survivor of stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: The Laurel Jazzercise Center’s Jazz-Ma-Tazz team members, from left, Kate Oursler, Sharon Meadows, Ann Walker and Marie Kehoe, all of Laurel, stretch together during the Relay for Life in Laurel. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Relay for Life in Laurel co-chairwomen Mandi Philips, left, and Kristy Murray speak to the crowd at the event on Saturday, June 7. In 2009, Murray’s grandmother passed due to pancreatic cancer, and Philips’ mother underwent radical intestinal surgery and chemotherapy. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Walkers bow their heads and pray at the Laurel Relay for Life on June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Cancer survivors walk during the survivors’ lap at the Laurel Relay for Life on June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Paige Brewer, left, of Sterling, Va., and her sister, Alaina, center, of Laurel cheer on Relay for Life walkers. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Several walker team tents were set up at the Laurel Relay for Life on June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Luminaria line the track at the Laurel Relay for Life on June 7. The luminaria are lit for those who have battled or are battling cancer. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Walkers listen to speakers before the start of the Relay for Life in Laurel on June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Part of the balloon arch at the Laurel Relay for Life on June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Cancer survivor Lori Stewart, left, of West Laurel, walks with her mother, cancer survivor Jane Stewart, center, of West Laurel, and aunt Liz Wise, right, of Phenix City, Al. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Walkers stretch before the start of the Laurel Relay for Life. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Mandi Philips, left, and Kristy Murray speak to the crowd at the Relay for Life walk in Laurel on June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: A team poses for a photo during the Laurel Relay for Life on Saturday, June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: A team waits to start the group lap during the Laurel Relay for Life on June 7. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Mary Gordan, right, of Upper Marlboro, talks to cancer survivor Marissa Thigpen, 10, of Laurel, at the Laurel Relay for Life. Marissa has been free from cancer for 7 years — she had right retinoblastoma. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: Juliana Belt, left, 12, and Jose Gutierrez, 12, both of Laurel, look at the luminaria surrounding the track at the Relay for Life. (Jen Rynda, Baltimore Sun Media Group)