When Relay for Life of Santa Clarita Valley kicked off at 9 a.m. Saturday morning in Central Park in Saugus, the fundraising event for the American Cancer Society had already raised nearly half of its $500,000 goal.

“This is the biggest Relay for Life in Southern California and the third largest Relay in the state,” said Brand Peach, co-event lead with his wife, Laura, and Betsy Keesler.

Laura Peach said there are more than 5,400 Relay events nationwide – more than 600 in California alone – and the SCV event is in the top 25 nationally.

Event Leads Laura and Brad Peach and Betsy Keesler at opening ceremonies for Relay for Life SCV.

“We’re opening Relay with $255,000 already raised, and the bulk of the money is actually raised during this 24-hour event,” said Brad Peach.

The 17th annual Santa Clarita Relay for Life will continue until 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

The Luminaria Ceremony was scheduled for 9 p.m. Saturday, when thousands of candle-lit bags lined the track in memory of cancer survivors and those who have died from cancer.

The Glow Party Silent Disco went on from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

The Fight Back Ceremony on the main stage will be held Sunday at 6:30 a.m.

“The survivor lap is my favorite part of Relay, and we are both very passionate about the Fight Back event,” said Brad Peach.

“The Fight Back Ceremony symbolizes the emotional commitment each of us can make in the fight against cancer.”

Janine Jones, Luminaria Lead, displays different luminaria bags available at Relay for Life SCV.

Laura Peach said the Luminaria Ceremony is her favorite Relay event.

“The Luminaria Ceremony takes place after dark, so we can remember people we have lost to cancer, honor people who have fought cancer in the past, and support those whose fight continues,” she said.

Candles are lit inside personalized bags and are placed around the Relay track as glowing tributes to those who’ve been affected by cancer.

Luminaria Lead Janine Jones said Relay usually sells nearly 4,000 luminaria bags to line the track after dark.

“This year we are offering additional gold and purple bags that will be highlighted around the stage,” she said.

Jones, who lost her mother, Sheila Veloz, in 2001 to cancer, said “after dark” events will also include a “Glow in the Park Midnight 5K” run (held at midnight) and a “Glow Party Silent Disco.”

“We’re upping the fun factor and doing some events to attract a younger crowd as well,” she said.

The Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center on the grounds of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is named for Jones’ mother.

The 2016 Relay for Life of SCV attracted 120 teams that worked the crowd selling raffle tickets, coffee, merchandise and other items to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

Oscar Streeter, of the Los Angeles Regional Council of the American Cancer Society presents a Special Recognition Award to ULCA Health which was accepted by Alexander Black, M.D., an oncologist with UCLA Health.

In the past 17 years, the SCV Relay for Life event has raised more than $6.4 million.

The money has been used for 914,286 rides to treatment, 71,111 trials for a cure, 12,800 stays at Hope Lodge, 12,800 Reach to Recovery connections and 320,000 responses from the online and toll-free information systems.

The theme for this year’s Santa Clarita Valley Relay for Life is “Hollywood Style.” Teams decorated booths with Hollywood red carpets, Oscar statuettes or Hollywood stars.

One booth paid tribute to Hollywood stars who have battled cancer.

Nancy Coulter, one of the founders of the SCV Relay for Life, said the first event was held at Canyon High School.

“Then we went to College of the Canyons and then to here, at Central Park,” she said.

The Heather’s Crusaders team, in honor of Coulter’s daughter Heather Warrick, who lost her battle with cancer in 2013, offered more than 20 raffle baskets and gifts cards to raise money during Relay.

Opening ceremonies included remarks by the Peaches and Keesler as well as a release of dozens of white doves.

During Relay for Life of SCV opening ceremonies, Oscar Streeter of the Los Angeles Regional Council of the American Cancer Society presented a Special Recognition Award to ULCA Health which was accepted by oncologist Alexander Black, M.D.

“I’ve had the privilege of taking care of patients in this community since 2000,” Black said. “I’ve not only seen this community change, but I’ve also seen the entire field of cancer change. So much progress has been made.”

Doves are released during the opening ceremonies of Relay for Life SCV.

Kymmer Crookston, opening ceremony speaker, said told the audience to “look for the rainbows.”

“I want to make the best of my life every day that I have,” she said.

After Crookston wished everyone a happy birthday in acknowledgement of the American Cancer Society “Official Sponsor of Birthdays” campaign, nearly 200 cancer survivors, wearing signature purple T-shirts, lined up on the track for the annual “survivor lap” that officially opened the event.

Members of Relay for Life teams lined the sides of the track and applauded the survivors, some in wheelchairs, some accompanied by caregivers, as they made their way around the quarter-mile loop.

Relay for Life was founded May 21, 1985, in Tacoma, Wash., when Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track and ultimately raised $27,000. A year later, 340 supporters joined the overnight event.

It quickly became the signature fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life movement has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, raising nearly $5 billion to fight cancer. Each year, more than 4 million people in 20 countries take part in Relay for Life.

The Relay for Life event is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk where teams of people camp out around a track and members of each team take turns walking around the track. Most events include food, games and activities in a family-friendly environment for the entire community.

Relay for Life of Santa Clarita Valley continues until 9 a.m. Sunday at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.scvrelay.com.

Opening ceremonies speaker Kymmer Crookston.

Teams applaud cancer survivors during the Survivor Lap of Relay for Life SCV.