On July 18 Relay for Life of Chenango County held a drive-thru fundraiser followed by a virtual luminary event on their Facebook page. (Photo by TJ Grady, Anibus Arts Drone Photography)

NORWICH – On July 18, Relay for Life of Chenango County celebrated its 24th year of raising funds for the American Cancer Society, despite the challenges the area is currently facing.

Undeterred by the heat, The Relay Planning Committee sat outside the pavilion at East Park in Norwich and collected drive-thru donations.

The committee then held a virtual luminary ceremony on their Facebook page. Individuals posted pictures and videos of their illuminated bags in honor of those battling cancer, and in memory of those who have passed.

By 9:30 p.m., East Park was glowing with purple lights. A bagpipe played as the Relay for Life team illuminated their bags.

"The live luminary ceremony was a way for us to still gather and honor those that we have lost and those that are still fighting. We wanted to be live so that we could all be connected for one of the more emotional parts of the event," said Event Chair Lynne Robertson.