The goals are lofty, but we’ve little doubt residents of Albert Lea and Freeborn County will come through.

The 2005 Freeborn County’s Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, runs from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. The fund-raising goal is $75,000. Last year’s event raised more than $71,000.

We urge residents to go out and support the event, which raises money for cancer research.

People can purchase luminaries in honor of or in memory of someone. They cost $10, and line the track or spell out the word &uot;Hope&uot; in the grandstand.

But people can also find inspirational speakers, food and entertainment, a kids’ carnival and a silent auction.

After opening ceremonies, cancer survivors will do a victory lap before the actual walk for the teams begin. The survivors’ walk is a moving sight to see, as is the lighting of the luminaries at 9 p.m.

Relay for Life was started in 1985 when Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma, Wash., surgeon, walked 83 miles and raised more than $27,000 for cancer research. Since then, Relay for Life has spread to more than 3,800 communities in the U.S.

There are few of us whose lives have not been touched in some way by cancer. Often we feel hopeless, but this event offers us all a way to help in the fight against cancer.

Let’s all

get out and support Relay for Life.