More than seven years ago, Cheryl Young traveled from doctor appointment to doctor appointment taking her young son, Noah, for cancer treatments.

Today, Noah, age 11, is cancer-free, and Young is the co-chairwoman with Janet Snodderly of the Patterson Relay For Life.

The town’s version of the American Cancer Society walkathon will be this weekend at Patterson Community Stadium, and Young and other relay organizers aim to reach a $60,000 fundraising goal. Young also has a goal to register 90 cancer survivors for the opening lap.

“Please, please, please, Patterson, come down and enjoy a day at Relay For Life,” Young said. “Please support this very worthy cause.”

As of Wednesday, the local relay had a total of 34 teams — 32 online and two offline — with hundreds of walkers registered to circle the track for 24 hours. The relay goes into the night and next day because “cancer never sleeps,” organizers said. Money raised goes toward cancer research and prevention.

Previous local relays have raised more than $70,000, and one year totaled more than $100,000. This year, local teams have raised money through yard sales, candle parties, donation drawings and pledges. A new addition, Bark for Life, a dog-focused relay day April 17 at Best Friends Pet Resort in rural Patterson, added $1,900 to the coffers.

Meanwhile, Young’s Relay for Life team, Team Noah, has more than $5,000 pledged so far, and the second-place Patterson High School Students Against Tobacco, known as PHAST, has brought in $3,000.

Money is raised dollar by dollar, sometimes in heated but friendly competition. And many groups, like the after-school programs in the Patterson Unified School District team, called Reaching to the Stars, compete annually.

Students at Apricot Valley Elementary School are winning that group’s fundraising race so far, with 343 “stars” as of Tuesday afternoon. One wall in the after-school program area is filled with star shapes, each recalling someone’s fight with cancer, in memory of a person who has died or in recognition of a donor.

“Our school and after-school program really pulled together as a team for this event and fundraiser opportunity for those who are in need,” said Lauren Soto-Figueroa, after-school program coordinator. “I was so proud that not only our school administrators, teachers and after-school staff donated funds for stars, but also parents, friends and students. We are thankful to help out and be involved with Relay For Life. It is such a great cause.”

Apricot Valley fifth-grader Maritza Vivero, 10, is one of the many students who pitched in.

“I would buy a star to help cancer patients, because I love helping and they need all the help they can get,” Maritza said. “Plus, I am thankful that I don’t have cancer, but I feel sorry for those people that do, and I want to help make them feel better.”

Danielle Rivera, a first-grader, also said she wanted to donate money to help sick people.

In addition to the all-night laps, a moving luminaria display and the opening survivors lap, a survivors breakfast will precede the relay at 8 a.m. Saturday, with local Lions Club members cooking and Soroptimists serving the free meal to survivors. All others can eat for $5 per person.

The weekend will also be filled with entertainment, fundraising at various campsites and a silent auction from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the survivors’ tent.

Also, the Kids Zone will feature Home Depot staff members who will be on hand to help children with craft items. A dance that is free to teen relay participants is planned for Saturday night, with a $5 ticket price for those not registered on a Relay For Life team.

At a glance

• WHAT: American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Patterson

• WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 1, through 10 a.m. Sunday, May 2

• WHERE: Patterson Community Stadium, Ward and Salado avenues

• INFO: Cheryl Young, 892-5973