Cancer has impacted almost all of our lives in some way or another, and a special group of friends including myself are doing something in honor of someone we lost to the disease.

On the Friday edition of 1590 WAKR  Ray Horner Morning Show, I spoke about why this event is significant to me.

This Relay is in honor of my good friend Tony Ciccarone, who died of colon cancer at the age of 26

 I will always remember him for his friendship and our shared love of sports. Tony was a great all around guy and someone who you could always count on.

2012 RELAY FOR LIFE by Aaron Coleman

However, many people were impacted by Tony during his time here, including those who are participating in the relay, and we are all walking together in his memory.

The 2012 Relay for Life at Bolich Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls serves as the backdrop for "Tony's Mafia" who will be relaying for the second time in as many years.

Relay Team Captain Tammy Thornburg , Tony's fiance says that all proceeds from the event will go directly to cancer research.

"It all goes back to the American Cancer Society and their motto is 'Creating More Birthdays'," Thornburg said.

"The money goes directly to cancer research in hopes of a cure."

The 24-hour event will be running from 9 a.m  Saturday to 9.a.m Sunday, with at least one member of each team walking the track for the duration of the event.

Tammy says there will be plenty going on at Bolich over the weekend in addition to the relay.

"Anybody's welcome to stop over, there will be a lot going on with raffles, silent auctions, bakesales and all kinds of stuff," she says.

If anyone is wishing to donate,  Bolich Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls will be providing  food, games and activities providing not only fun, but  fund raising opportunities.

The relay itself is broken down into three sections:

It all starts with a survivors lap, where cancer survivors walk a lap to celebrate their own personal victories over cancer. Then,  after dark we participate in the Luminaria Ceremony where  we light candles  inside bags filled with sand.

Those bags  have the name of an individual who succumbed to cancer.

Last but not least, there is the Fight Back ceremony, which all participants pledge to wage our own fight against cancer by quitting smoking, or speaking to our elected officials about cancer.

In our second year as a relay team, "Tony's Mafia has over 30 members and has raised over $2,000 for cancer research.