It will be an all-night affair as 28 Relay for Life teams hit the track tonight to raise money, and awareness, for cancer’s cure.

At 6 p.m. at Washington High School, the event will kick off with an opening ceremony and the Survivors Lap, with the first lap of the overnight walk-a-thon given over to cancer survivors a Relay for Life Tradition. The goal is to have 285 survivors walk in this year’s first lap — so far 241 have registered, but many more are expected, said Sonya Fortescue, one of the event coordinators.

“I know the amount of survivors that are registered is usually just a drop in the bucket,” Fortescue said. “I would at least say 1,500 to 2,000 people come out there, not at one time, but during the night.”

The fundraiser raises money in a variety of ways: luminaries, lighted balloons and tiki torches are sold to those who wish to honor loved ones who have or had cancer, and those who’ve lost their battle with the disease. In addition to raising money through family and friends to support their walk, several teams will hold fundraisers within fundraisers, selling barbecue plates, low country boil dinners, baked goods and more.

Relay for Life always draws a crowd, as it’s at once somber and hopeful, fun and meaningful. But there’s an even better reason to attend and help raise funds for cancer research, Fortescue said.

“I think everybody has been touched by cancer in one way or another, whether that’s a friend or a family member,” Fortescue said. “It just puts a different perspective on it when you see the sea of purple walking around, being cheered on. It’s beyond words. … “It’s a very touching ceremony and the survivors are all so appreciative of what everyone does.””

Special events will take place both on and off the track throughout the night.

At 9 p.m., the lights go off, the track and its walkers lit only by the light of the luminaries. There are the Pajama Lap, in which everyone walking wears pajamas, and the “Go Purple” lap, in which walkers done Relay for Life’s signature purple from head to toe. At midnight, the Bingo cards are passed out and the games begin.

“It’s been a tradition since I’ve been going,” Fortescue said. “They get pretty serious about their Bingo.”

This year’s goal is to match last year’s $122,000 raised. According to the Relay for Life website, Beaufort County Relay for Life has raised $65,000 so far. Luminaries, glow balloons and tiki torches — attached to the fence along with a board for photographs and other memorabilia of a loved one — caregiver bags and more will be on sale until at least 8 p.m. tonight, Fortescue said.

And if it rains, the walk will go on, Fortescue said.

“We’ll still do it. As long as there’s no thunder and lightning, we’ll go on. … Where there’s a will there’s a way,” she said.