It took 19 teams and more than 160 participants during the Milpitas Relay For Life this past weekend to raise almost $60,000 for the American Cancer Society, organizers say.

Held at Murphy Park on Yellowstone Avenue, the annual fundraiser this year was held on a different date and location compared to prior years when it was at the Milpitas Sports Center’s track.

Still, attendees “seemed to really like the new location and new date,” according to Tamara Overacker, the event organizer.

Cancer survivors, caretakers and the public relayed — starting on Saturday and ending 24 hours later on Sunday — during the event that included music, games, prizes, performances and the sharing of cancer survivor stories. Saturday night’s luminaria ceremony saw candles lit inside small white paper bags in remembrance of loved ones who died from cancer.

Among the many cancer survivors attending, the event also honored 14-year-old Milpitas resident Stephanie Welker, who is a 10-year cancer survivor. Stephanie and her mother Lisa Welker shared how Stephanie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare and intense cancer of the blood, a few months after she turned 2 years old in 2004 and her subsequent treatment and recovery.

On Monday, Lisa Welker said that sharing their story and participating in the relay event had gone “really, really well.”

All in all, Overacker said the relay was “extremely successful.”

“It was very festive and community feeling this year. Next year, we are planning to have more teams and many activities planned and we can’t wait to start planning for next year,” she said.

Overacker added there were many to thank for this year’s Relay For Life.

“We would like to acknowledge Randy Swanson from Team Hope who walked the entire 24 hours for a total of 40 miles. Also, special thanks to Frenzy from the San Jose Barracudas for coming out and adding to the fun,” she said.

Overacker noted teams will continue fundraising for the American Cancer Society through Aug. 31. She said a fundraiser, the “Road to Recovery Car Show,” will be held at the Beverly Heritage Hotel, 1820 Barber Lane, on Aug. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about Milpitas’ Relay For Life, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=74096&;pg=entry.

Contact Aliyah Mohammed at amohammed@bayareanewsgroup.com or 408-262-2454 or follow her on twitter.com/Aliyah_JM. Visit us on our social media sites at facebook.com/MilpitasPost and twitter.com/MilpitasPost.