Kathy Bridgeman has had more than her share of cancer in her family.

Not only is she battling an ongoing form of leukemia, but last year she lost her mother to leukemia and her husband to a rare type of cancer in the digestive tract within 10 weeks of each other.

“It made my drive to find the cure. Since I can’t do anything to bring them back I can help,” she said. “This is a journey to get awareness. I’ll do whatever it takes. I want to see a cure in my lifetime.”

This year’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Warren County will be difficult, said Bridgeman, who is one of the event organizers.

“This year will be a hard survivor lap because it will be hard to walk without my mother,” she said.

The 21st annual Relay for Life will be Friday at Bowling Green High School at 1801 Rockingham Ave. Gates open at 5 p.m., followed by the opening ceremony at 7 p.m. Nick Wilkins, also known as Broadway the Clown, will be the survivor speaker. The luminaria ceremony, where lights line the track in memory of those who lost their battle with cancer, will be at 10 p.m. The closing ceremony will be at 2 a.m.

“We’ll recognize teams who met their goals and wrap up,” said Relay for Life Community Manager Jill Isom.

This year it’s a carnival theme, and there will be activities such as Zumba, yoga and inflatables, which are $5 per child for the entire night. Teams will have other activities such as games, face painting and a dunking booth. Some of the teams will sell food. Rafferty’s and Chaney’s Dairy Barn will also be there.

During the event, survivors will do the opening lap. Survivors and caregivers will do the second lap. Everyone will join in afterwards, and at least one member of each team will be on the track all night to symbolize that cancer never sleeps.

There will be a fight back ceremony at midnight encouraging people to do something to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

“They can form a team. They can volunteer with the American Cancer Society,” Isom said. “They can get screenings they are eligible for. They can encourage someone else to get screenings they’re eligible for.”

Warren County relay has done well in its 21 years, Isom said. It has been named in the top 10 in the nation per capita, ranked 26th in the nation out of more than 5,000 Relay for Life events and is fourth in the Mid-South Division, which includes six states. Last year it raised $394,491. Over 21 years, it has raised $3 million for cancer research.

Participating in Relay for Life is a way a lot of people can give back and make a difference, Isom said.

“The American Cancer Society is trying to find a cure and this is one way we can assist in that effort,” she said.

Bridgeman has been involved with the American Cancer Society for at least 15 years.

“About 15 years ago my mother also had leukemia. She was getting ready to start treatment. I went to the American Cancer Society for for a wig,” she said. “I came out as a team captain for Relay for Life, all on my lunch hour.”

Bridgeman knew nothing about it, but she made up for it with enthusiasm.

“We raised between $4,500 in two weeks. From there I was asked to join the committee,” she said. “I was asked to be a luminaria chair. The position I have now is to bring people to the event.”

Relay for Life is a community event geared toward everyone from small children to senior citizens, Bridgeman said.

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate against anyone. I would love to see everyone come out,” she said. “There are a lot of things that will be educational to the community as well as fun events.”

Bridgeman has been battling her own cancer for four years. Being proactive and her own advocate has been key.

“I have a good one. It’s a chronic form, so it’s ongoing. I have to avoid infections. It makes your immune system compromised,” she said. “I do a lot of hand sanitizer and handwashing. I eat right. I visit my doctor every six months. I just had a six-month checkup and got a great review.

Bridgeman doesn’t take chemotherapy or radiation.

“Should it ever get to that stage instead of doing the old type with the IV, it will be with a pill,” she said.

Next, she plans to advocate for the type of cancer her husband had.

“I was told at the hospital there was no known cure and no known treatment,” she said. “I told the doctor there would be. I’ve decided with this journey you take what you’re dealt and make it better.”

– Follow features reporter Alyssa Harvey on Twitter @bgdnfeatures or visit bgdailynews.com.