Cancer survivors and their caregivers filled the Fairlane building at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds Monday, to register for the Relay for Life, enjoy an ice cream social and celebrate.

“This is a chance for survivors to come together,” said Jill Johnson, survivor chairwoman for the Relay for Life. “To come together and have a celebration.”

Two-hundred and forty people attended the event, signed their luminaries, received T-shirts and received the gift of sterling silver charm bracelets courtesy of Stadheim Jewelers.

Each table was filled with people who have defeated cancer, some still battling and many who helped along the way.

Among the crowd was William and Genevieve Kruger. William is an 18-year survivor of kidney and prostate cancer and Genevieve has been suffering from colon cancer for eight months. Genevieve said that William’s perseverance gives her hope.

Also at the Relay for Life ice cream social was Betty Sabinish, an 86-year-old survivor of breast cancer for 40 years.

Sabinish, who uses a walker to get around, will be pushed in a wheelchair by her caregiver and daughter-in-law Kathy Sabinish during the relay.

Last year, Betty was able to ride around the track in a golf cart and didn’t want to stop.

“I like to go around the track,” Betty said.

The caregivers who attended the ice cream social will join the survivors in the first lap walked at the Relay for Life. This is the first year caregivers will be allowed to walk in the “survivor lap.”

The Freeborn County Relay for Life will be held at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds Aug. 13-14.