PONTIAC - More than 1,000 people were urged to celebrate, remember and fight back as the Livingston County Relay for Life began at noon Friday.

Focusing on an Olympic theme, 50 teams began a daylong fundraiser at Pontiac Township High School for cancer prevention and research. The closing ceremony will be at 9 a.m. today.

"It's a celebration of life and it's a celebration of remembrance," said Paula Holsten, a member of the Dwight Flamingo Patrol relay team who previously was diagnosed with a pre-cancerous esophagus. "And this year, we are going to fight back."

The theme for this year's relay was "XII Relay Olympics," and several of the tents at the site displayed several nations' flags and the five-ring Olympic symbol.

Some decorated their spaces to showcase their trademark style of fundraising. For example, the Dwight Flamingo Patrol had dozens of the plastic pink flamingos the group distributed to raise money.

The opening ceremony brought out numerous cancer survivors who told of their personal experiences.

One survivor, Val Boucher of Roanoke, who fought hairy cell leukemia several years ago, challenged those in attendance to "fight back" through treatment, fundraising and support.

"It is time for you yourselves to take action and make a difference," he said. "Reach out to the research, do advocating and special services that each one of you can do … because it is so, so, so important."

One of the special guest speakers was former U.S. Rep. Tom Ewing, A Pontiac Republican. He said he had been to several relays, but this year's meant something more because his wife, Connie, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

Ewing said she is doing well with treatment.

"We can't let up," Ewing told the crowd. "With your help and the help of all of the many people involved in the cancer plight, we can and will bring home a gold medal of victory over this disease."

Lisa Adair, regional director of the American Cancer Society in west-central Illinois, said Friday the event was going well in terms of turnout and money raised. Even though the amount raised was not disclosed Friday, Adair said organizers were confident they would surpass their goal of $150,000.