demopolis &045; They came from all over Marengo County &8212; young and old, men and women whose lives had been affected by cancer. Whether they were personally afflicted, or whether they merely knew someone who had to battle the raging beast of a disease that turns a person&8217;s own body traitor did not matter.

What mattered in the end on Friday night was that more than 500 people came together for the 2008 Marengo County Relay For Life, celebrating their own survival or remembering those who have fallen to the often fatal disease.

They came to raise money &8212; more than $68,000 to help fund research to find a cure for cancer. They came to celebrate life.

They came to hope &8212; to hope for a day when cancer can be eradicated, when early warning signs and early detection can be 100 percent effective in the battle against this affliction.

American Cancer Society community representative Jennifer Hallman said the county&8217;s event had met &8212; and likely exceeded &8212; its financial goal.

She thanked each team for its participation, and singled out Rock-Tenn as the organization that had raised the most money, piling up $25,000 for Relay this year.