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They will walk all night in a fight against cancer. 

Dozens of Berkeley residents will be part of a group of 280 people from the East Bay in a 24-hour “Relay for Life” at the El Cerrito High School track this weekend, hoping to raise $40,000 for the American Cancer Society. 

The walk will begin with a 24-minute stroll by cancer survivors at 10 a.m. Saturday and will conclude with a 24-minute survivors’ walk Sunday morning. 

Berkeley resident and cancer survivor Marisa Saunders said helping to organize the event has been a healing process. 

“It puts me in a position to be surrounded by others I have a connection to,” said Saunders. “I have a feeling I’m doing something positive.” 

Saunders has organized a 15-member team, including Berkeley Board of Education Director Terry Doran and Alameda County Superintendent Sheila Jordan, to participate. Three other Berkeley teams will also participate. 

The American Cancer Society has sponsored similar events, all over the country, since 1985. Last year, the relays raised $200 million for cancer prevention, research, detection and treatment, including $35,000 from the East Bay event. 

For information, go to www.cancer.org or call Joann Steck-Bay at at (510) 524-9464. El Cerrito High School is located at 540 Ashbury Ave. in El Cerrito. 

— David Scharfenberg