The St. Croix Unit of the American Cancer Society will hold its tenth Relay for Life on St. Croix this Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, at the St. Croix Educational Complex outdoor track. It will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday and go until 3 p.m. on Sunday. There will be 41 teams competing this year.

The annual slow-motion marathon raises money for cancer treatment and research. Local units of the ACS hold fundraising relays all across the U.S. The Relay for Life theme all across the nation this year is "Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back,” according to Astrid England, who chairs the group of American Cancer Society volunteers organizing the race.

Teams contribute at least $1,500 to participate, with each team member pitching in a share. Each team must have members circling the track for the full 24-hour span.

“Last year’s relay raised between $70,000 and $80,000, which was a bit less than years past, probably as a result of the worldwide economic situation,” England said.

With the economy turning around, ACS is cautiously optimistic for a better result this time. "This year we are hoping to raise $90,000," she said.