Thousands of cancer survivors and their supporters will walk, run or even hop at one of seven Relay for Life events scheduled during the next two months in Butler and Warren counties.

The events, which raise money for the American Cancer Society, consist of laps around a track, with people donating money to teams or individuals. The relays run overnight, complete with entertainment and various on-site fund-raisers.

Every Relay starts with a Survivors Lap, for which survivors are invited to circle the track and celebrate their victories over cancer.

The Luminaria ceremony held after dark honors people who have battled cancer. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person who has been diagnosed with cancer, some who have lost the battle. Participants then walk a lap in silence.

“The Relay for Life is a community event,” said Brittany Kapfhammer, American Cancer Society spokeswoman overseeing the Butler relays. “But every event is a little bit different, since it’s reflective of that community.”

Located at Lakota West High School, the West Chester Relay has significant youth participation, said its co-chairman, Jamie Banks.

“We get huge participation from Lakota West High School. Some relays struggle with getting the younger generation involved, but ours does really well,” he said.

Hamilton’s Relay for Life has a new event this year called the “Hamilton Hop for Hope” at 6 p.m. May 22, in which participants will hop like bunnies around the track.

“We’re going to attempt it,” said Robyn Jacobs, the event chair. “We’re going to have some sore legs by the time we’re done.”

West Chester Twp. has about 30 teams with 300 to 500 people total, according to Kapfhammer, who said Middletown-Monroe is about the same size. Hamilton has 40 teams for 500 to 700 people. Fairfield had 20 teams and 300 people at the start of this week. Oxford’s is “a big community event,” Kapfhammer said, with 30 teams totalling between 300 to 500 people.

One of those people is Dee Markle, a Middletown woman who has participated in Relay for Life since it was a county-wide event 16 years ago, held at the Butler County Fairgrounds. Markle is herself a breast cancer survivor, having been cancer free since 1987.

“As a survivor, it’s important for me to participate,” Markle said. “My thinking is I want to do everything I could to support the American Cancer Society.”

In Warren County, Lebanon’s 2010 Relay for Life is shaping up to be the million-dollar relay, said Kathy Popp, the chairwoman of the event.

“We’re doing really well this year. This is the 11th year we’ve been around, and we’re on track to be able to say we’ve raised $1 million over that time,” she said. “We’re making big plans this year, so we’d better hit it.”

Those “big plans” include an opening ceremony featuring the Team Fastrax skydiving group.

Springboro’s Relay for Life will have a number of games based on the “Minute to Win It” TV show, a bouncy house for kids, local bands, and “a host of on-site fundraisers” including coffee, hot dogs, face painting, and a golf cart ride around the track, said Julie Bolton, the event chairwoman.

“No one sleeps at our relay,” Bolton said.

Entertainment plans for many of the events were still pending at press time.

For more information about Relay for Life events, visit www.relayforlife.org.