The American Cancer Society estimates more than 1.6 million new cases of cancer in 2013 in the U.S., and about 53,000 of those cases will be in North Carolina.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S. and no cure exists. That is why the American Cancer Society encourages communities to become involved in finding a cure through local Relay for Life events.

No one thinks it will happen to someone close to them, but the reality is that cancer claims the lives of one out of every four people in the U.S. Relay for Life of West Haywood County and Relay for Life of Canton are hoping to bring more attention to the disease and help fund cancer research.

Katrina Wyatt of Waynesville has been involved with Relay for Life for three years.

“Our church got involved, but the more it ...