They gathered, remembered, honored and relayed.

More than 900 people — including students, faculty and community members — walked, fundraised and walked some more Friday as Elon University’s Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) chapter hosted its third annual Relay for Life.

The event, built on fundraising efforts that started with TriathELON in October, raised $70,098.33 at the 6 a.m. conclusion Saturday.

This year’s Relay for Life raised almost 40 percent more than last year’s $50,078.23 total.

There was an increase in attendance, too. Last year, the event drew around 800 people total. This year, 860 participants were registered before Friday and 100 more trickled in throughout the evening.

More than $7,000 of the money raised this year came not just from donations and events, but also fundraisers that evening.

Five food trucks — a new addition — were present for no charge and each donated part of their profit, which totaled $600 to Relay for Life, according to Sam Murray, director of operations.

Fundraisers hosted by individual teams, including Alpha Omicron Pi’s “Smash a Car,” Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Saturday morning breakfast and the chance for participants to rent and hold puppies, comprised $7,000 of the money raised for The American Cancer Society.

Money was not the only thing donated—hair was also given.

Seventeen people cut their hair Friday for Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which requires donated hair to be at least eight inches long.

Sophomore Hannah Lanzillotta, a volunteer who cut her hair, is familiar with donating hair — she’s done it three times.

“Donating my hair is such a big deal to me because it’s one more part of me that I can give back,” Lanzillotta said. “I try to give as many of my blessings back as possible, like money, time. I’m in the global bone marrow and plasma donation registry, and hair. These are all things that I’m very fortunate to have even though I usually take them for granted.”

Four hours into Relay for Life Friday evening, the large lights surrounding Francis Center Field flickered off and participants, with glow sticks in hand, inched their way to the perimeter of the track for the Luminary Ceremony, a central part of not just Elon’s event but also others throughout the country.

Luminary bags were sold leading up to the event for donors to write on to honor a loved one affected by cancer.

Slowly, glow sticks lit up as a reader called different people surrounding the track who have been affected by cancer: survivors, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, grandchildren, friends.

Sophomore marketing and social media committee member Jessie Brown lit her glow stick in honor of her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when Brown was five, and for other close family members and friends who have been touched by cancer.

She first became involved with Relay for Life six years ago when she was a freshman in high school.

“I saw what an amazing organization the American Cancer Society is that I couldn’t help but continue my involvement in any way possible,” Brown said. “Relay for Life has shown me how strong our Elon community is and how we can come together to end something that touches and impacts so many of us.”